Russia-Ukraine War: Video released by Ukraine allegedly shows North Korean troops in Russia

Kyiv, Ukraine — A video showing dozens of North Korean recruits lining up to collect Russian military gear has been released by Ukrainian officials, who say it shows the introduction of troops sent by Pyongyang into the conflict.

The video, released by the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, which is under the Ministry of Culture and Information, reportedly shows North Korean soldiers lining up to collect bags, clothes and other Russian military clothing. The Associated Press could not independently verify the video.

“We received this video from our own sources. We cannot provide further verification from the sources who provided it to us for security reasons,” said Ihor Solovey, director of the center.

“The video clearly shows that North Korean citizens are issued Russian uniforms under the direction of the Russian military,” he said. “For Ukraine, this video is important because it is the first video evidence showing North Korea participating in the war on the side of Russia. Now, not only with weapons and shells, but also with personnel. “

The center claims the footage was shot by a Russian soldier in recent days. It is not specified how the images were obtained. Location is unknown.

This comes after Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov claimed in local media that around 11,000 North Korean infantrymen were currently training in eastern Russia. He predicted they would be ready to join the fighting by November. At least 2,600 people would be sent to Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an incursion in August, he said.

“The emergence of a number of new soldiers is a problem because we will simply need additional new weapons to destroy them all,” Solovey told the AP. “The release of this video is important because it signals to the global community that with two countries officially at war with Ukraine, we will need more support to push back this aggression.”

The presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine, if proven, would be further evidence of intensifying military ties between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Last summer, they signed a strategic partnership treaty that commits both countries to providing military assistance. North Korean weapons have already been used in the war in Ukraine.