On the 975th day of war in Ukraine, Russian forces launched an attack last night on Ukrainian territory with 50 Iranian kamikaze drones Shahed, of which 40 were neutralized, and 4 Kh-22 and Kh-59 missiles. Seven other drones were neutralized through interference that caused them to lose their course, and the missiles, although not intercepted, "did not reach their targets."
Kiev acknowledges Russian pressure as Russian forces claim to have captured the villages of Serebrianka and Mykolaivka in the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk region. Ukrainian troops are facing difficulties in defending Selydove, southwest of Mykolaivka, and its capture would pave the way for a Russian advance on Pokrovsk.
Ukraine is preparing as if fighting North Korea on its territory is inevitable. United States, South Korea, and Ukraine confirm that North Korea has deployed troops in Russia that could soon be fighting in Ukraine. Meanwhile, China stated that they were "not aware."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the involvement of a third country, referring to the incorporation of North Korean troops in Russia to fight in Ukraine, could turn the conflict into a world war.
However, analysts believe that the introduction of North Korean troops would indicate that the war is not unfolding as Russia had planned. There are many questions surrounding the impact of North Korean involvement.
All eyes are on the anticipated meeting on Ukraine between Russian President Vladimir Putin and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, to be held this Thursday on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Kazan, Russia.