Russia downs Ukrainian drones, Zelenskyy warns of North Korean Military support
Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that it had destroyed 14 Ukrainian aerial drones near the Ukraine-Russia border and intercepted four uncrewed Ukrainian boats in the Black Sea. According to the ministry, Russian air defenses took down 10 drones over Crimea, which is under Russian control, and an additional four over the Rostov region.
Meanwhile, Russian forces conducted another night of intense drone attacks on the Sumy region in southern Ukraine. The Sumy regional military administration reported that Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 19 Russian drones on Wednesday, following the downing of 25 drones in the same area the previous night. Ukrainian officials from the Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv regions also confirmed shooting down drones during overnight attacks.
Possible North Korean Military Involvement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Tuesday that Ukraine had obtained intelligence suggesting that two North Korean military units, potentially comprising two brigades of 6,000 soldiers each, are undergoing training for combat deployment in Ukraine.
“This poses a challenge,” Zelenskyy remarked in his daily address. “However, we are prepared to respond to it. It is crucial that our partners also confront this challenge head-on.”
He added, “If North Korea can involve itself in a European conflict, then the pressure on its regime is clearly insufficient. And if Russia continues to escalate and extend this war, then anyone who is not aiding efforts to push Russia toward peace is, in effect, supporting Putin’s war effort.” Zelenskyy called for a decisive response from the international community, stating, “We need more than just words.”
Global Reactions to Russia’s Actions
On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Russia’s conduct in the conflict, warning that its actions are endangering lives far beyond Ukraine.
“Russia’s reckless strikes on Black Sea ports show that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is willing to risk global food security to pressure Ukraine into submission,” Starmer said. “This strategy threatens millions of vulnerable people in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East in an effort to gain an advantage in this brutal war.”
He condemned Russia’s disregard for human life, emphasizing the widespread consequences of the invasion.
The report included information from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters.
