DPRK military. Photo: lviv.ua
Russia uses DPRK troops to support aggression in eastern Ukraine
According to TimeUkraineIsrael , citing a statement by the head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, Russia is recruiting North Korean soldiers to its army, integrating them into units to fight on the Ukrainian front. Currently, 3,000 DPRK soldiers are deployed in Kursk region, where they are trained and adapted to Russian military units with the assistance of the local command.
Integration, disguise and future plans
North Korean soldiers, already dressed in Russian Armed Forces uniforms, have been issued Russian documents to conceal their real origin. Russian propaganda plans to pass them off as representatives of ethnic minorities, such as Kalmyks, Tuvans and Buryats, to disguise the foreign presence in the ranks of its army.
Separate units of engineers from the DPRK have also been spotted in Donetsk region, where they are engaged in the construction of military infrastructure.
A large-scale contingent: Russia’s ambitions
The total number of DPRK troops in Russia has reached 12,000, and this is only the beginning of their active involvement. Moscow plans to gradually integrate this contingent into the fighting in eastern Ukraine, expanding their presence in the temporarily occupied territories. The North Korean military is expected to gain combat experience and remain a key resource in Russia’s plans for a prolonged confrontation with Ukraine.
This involvement of foreign troops is an alarming signal of Russia’s intentions, as it seeks to increase pressure on Ukrainian forces, disregarding any international norms.
