As the war in Ukraine rages on, alarming reports surfaced that North Korean troops may have joined the Russian forces on the battlefield. According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, a North Korean flag was spotted alongside a Russian flag in Pokrovsk, a town in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. This revelation could signify deeper military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow as they bolster their efforts against Ukraine.
Reports suggest that North Korea has sent approximately 1,500 special forces troops to Russia’s Far East for training. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has openly accused North Korea of dispatching officers to assist Russia in its military operations, hinting at a broader deployment of troops. However, Kyiv’s allies have yet to confirm these claims, although they remain vigilant and are investigating.
What’s Happening on the Ground?
In the meantime, Russian forces have been engaged in intense battles in the eastern Ukrainian town of Selydove. President Vladimir Putin’s troops have pushed to control the entire Donbas region, an area critical to the ongoing conflict. Pro-Russian bloggers reported that Russian forces are advancing in an unprecedented manner—capturing towns one by one and squeezing Ukrainian troops to retreat.
- Street-to-street fighting reported in Selydove
- Russia controls about 80% of the Donbas region
- Intensifying assaults may further escalate the conflict
With Russian forces encircling towns in Donetsk, including Vuhledar and Avdiivka, the humanitarian situation appears increasingly dire. Videos posted by military bloggers show heavy shelling in Selydove, although independent verification of these claims remains challenging.
International Reactions
The Kremlin has dismissed claims concerning North Korean military support but reaffirmed its *sovereign right* to foster ties with Pyongyang. As the conflict progresses, tensions around Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership have heated up, despite the West’s cautious stance on such a proposition.
As the two-and-a-half-year war enters what Russian officials deem its most perilous phase, the stakes continue to rise. The situation in Donbas remains a pivotal focal point for both the Russian military and Ukraine’s defence.