Over 7,000 North Korean soldiers equipped and armed by Russia have been transported to areas near the border with Ukraine. A sign of their imminent deployment in the conflict. The alarm was raised by Kiev’s military intelligence, known by the acronym Gur, according to which the troops sent by Pyongyang were trained in five locations in the Russian Far East to be able to fight alongside their colleagues in Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a message on social media, assured that he knew the exact location of the training camps and hypothesized an attack in those areas, to prevent North Korean troops from entering the war . This could only be possible, however, with the green light from allies in Kiev to use Western-made long-range weapons to strike targets deep inside Russia. A green light that has not been granted so far, unleashing Zelensky’s anger: «America is watching, the United Kingdom is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking the Ukrainians too,” he wrote on social media. Meanwhile, at the front, the head of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Syrsky, stated that his troops “are facing one of the most powerful Russian offensives since the beginning of the war”, while the rain of missiles and bombs dropped by the Russian army.
During the night between Friday and Saturday, over 70 Iranian-made Shahed drones attacked the country. Most of these were shot down or sent off course thanks to the jamming of the GPS signal, but the falling debris damaged electricity grids and residential buildings in several provinces, causing fires and injuring at least 2 people in Kiev. In the capital, air warning sirens sounded for over five hours. A missile hit a large group of policemen who had gathered in Kharkiv: a 40-year-old officer died and 36 other colleagues were injured. In Kherson, however, the bombings killed a woman and injured 3 other people, including 2 children. How Russia managed to precisely target Ukrainian infrastructure, equipment and soldiers in these 2 years of conflict was partially revealed by Daniel Martindale, a US citizen. The 33-year-old, at a press conference in Moscow, told how since the beginning of the war he had infiltrated Ukraine to pass on information to Moscow. «In the last two years I have done everything to save the lives of Russian soldiers and I would like to continue doing so», he said in front of journalists, assuring that he had no intention of returning to his country, «since 2005 I consider the government of the United my enemy. What I would like is to have a Russian passport.”
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**Interview with Dr. Alexei Petrov, International Relations Expert**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Petrov. Recently, President Zelenskyy called for permission from Western allies to strike North Korean troops stationed in Russia, claiming they are being prepared for combat against Ukraine. What does this imply about the current state of the conflict?
**Dr. Petrov:** Thank you for having me. Zelenskyy’s statement highlights the evolving dynamics of the Ukraine conflict and introduces a new layer with North Korean involvement. The presence of over 7,000 North Korean troops, trained and equipped by Russia, indicates not just an escalation but a potential expansion of the conflict, drawing in allies with significant military capabilities.
**Interviewer:** Zelenskyy mentioned that his government knows the locations of North Korean training camps in Russia. How significant is this intelligence?
**Dr. Petrov:** It’s crucial. Accurate intelligence can inform tactical decisions, and identifying the locations of enemy forces is key in military strategy. If Ukraine can target these camps using long-range weapons, it could preemptively disrupt the North Korean troop deployment and potentially deter further aggression. However, it raises complex diplomatic issues, especially concerning strikes inside Russia.
**Interviewer:** Why is Zelenskyy emphasizing the need for a “green light” from Western allies?
**Dr. Petrov:** The term “green light” refers to the approval for Ukraine to use Western-made munitions for strikes beyond its borders. It illustrates the intricate web of international relations at play. Many Western nations are cautious about escalating the conflict further, potentially leading to direct confrontations with Russia. Zelenskyy’s frustration suggests he believes that allowing such strikes is essential to safeguard Ukrainian sovereignty.
**Interviewer:** How might Western allies perceive the request to strike North Korean troops in Russia?
**Dr. Petrov:** The West is likely to weigh the risks of escalation against the potential benefits of aiding Ukraine. On one hand, allowing Ukraine to preemptively strike could be seen as a necessary defense measure against a new threat. On the other hand, it could provoke retaliation from Russia and escalate the situation into a broader conflict, which many Western nations are keen to avoid.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what could be the broader implications if Ukraine does receive support to strike these targets?
**Dr. Petrov:** If Ukraine receives such authorization, it could lead to a shift in the conflict’s trajectory. It may embolden Ukraine’s military tactics and potentially deter North Korean involvement. However, this could also destabilize the region further, prompting heightened military responses from Russia and affecting international relations. The situation remains very delicate and requires careful handling by all involved parties.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Petrov, for your insightful analysis on this pressing issue.
**Dr. Petrov:** My pleasure. Thank you for having me.
