Russia is assembling a “coalition of criminals,” blasted Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russia is gathering huge numbers of North Koreans to fight in Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian military intelligence official told POLITICO.

“They are called the Buryat Battalion … there are some 3,000 North Koreans there,” the official said, when granted anonymity to candidly discuss the sensitive topic.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said that Ukraine is now fighting against two states.

The Kyiv Independent reported, citing an anonymous Western official, that Pyongyang has so far actually sent 10,000 soldiers to Russia to boost its war effort in Ukraine.

  • bassomitron@lemmy.world
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    20 days ago

    I view it as NK getting real world combat experience. It helps both countries out. This isn’t good for multiple reasons.

    • ramble81@lemm.ee
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      20 days ago

      Only if they try more modern tactics. If they’re just being plugged in to Russian command it’s just more meat for the meat grinder. Which makes sense because Russians play book has usually been “overwhelm with warm bodies”

      • bassomitron@lemmy.world
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        20 days ago

        True enough. Though, Russia has adapted tactics in various domains since their initial invasion, e.g. their drone defensive/offensive tactics. Regardless, if NK is simply sending grunts to the frontline without their own senior officers and/or company commanders/sergeants, there won’t be much useful combat experience to take back home to their own military.

      • lolrightythen@lemmy.world
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        20 days ago

        Right? NK is just selling bodies to be droned down at a later date. I can’t believe this has gone on so long while leading nations are hesitant to offer aid that can make more of an impact than an occasional stalemate.

        Then again, I don’t know a whole lot about what is all going down as my countries news outlets are bought and paid for to a large extent.

    • 52fighters@lemmy.sdf.org
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      20 days ago

      I guarantee that Putin is paying for NK soldiers. Human trafficking of men for combat. I am curious to know how much he is paying per head and how this slave trade program changes after they see the initial results.

    • someguy3@lemmy.world
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      20 days ago

      NK really doesn’t have the economy to produce anything. They’d still lose.

      • I Cast Fist@programming.dev
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        20 days ago

        If they decided to attack, yes, they’d lose badly, though they can easily cause severe damage to Seoul, as the city sits less than 30km away from the demilitarized zone and within range of several artillery pieces spread over the border.

        • ramble81@lemm.ee
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          20 days ago

          Except they’ve literally just blown up all the bridges that connect the north to the south. Sounds more like they’re isolating further rather than considering an offensive