Russia may send North Korean troops to winter assaults in Donbass, - The Guardian
Date: 2024-10-22 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WAR
North Korean soldiers may appear on the front lines in Ukraine. It is not known what role the North Korean troops will play, however, given Russia's tactics, which neglects casualties among personnel, they may be sent for winter assaults, for example, to Pokrovsk or other important points on the eastern front of Ukraine, writes The Guardian.
According to Sam Cranny-Evans from the Royal United Services Institute, the North Korean troops may perform a variety of tasks: from logistics on the front line, including transporting ammunition and digging fortifications, to work in the rear or even inside Russia to free up more Russian troops. They may also be involved in training so that they acquire combat skills.
North Korean troops could learn a lot, especially how cheap drones can affect the battlefield in Ukraine by limiting troop concentrations and increasing vigilance.
Beyond the military implications, the alliance benefits both sides politically. The rapprochement between Russia and North Korea reinforces the “axis of upheaval” that includes Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea as they seek to challenge Western military dominance.
As Richard Fontaine, executive director of the Center for a New American Security, noted, Russia is providing Pyongyang with political support that only Beijing has previously offered, and may also transfer missile and submarine technology.
South Korean intelligence has uncovered another important detail. According to their data, since August last year, North Korea has made 70 deliveries of ammunition to Russia, including shells, missiles, and anti-tank weapons - a total of about 8 million units, including the 152mm and 122mm shells that are important to Moscow.
The deliveries come as the U.S. faces uncertainty about future military aid to Ukraine due to upcoming elections and Europe is trying to boost its own munitions production. A $50 billion loan to Ukraine from the G7 could help ease some of the difficulties, but Russia’s continued determination to continue the war and its deepening ties with North Korea suggest the challenges for Kyiv remain significant.
