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.

  • einkorn
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    5 hours ago

    But I’m skeptical that this is a cannon fodder battalion.

    Any NK soldier that isn’t a technician is effectively cannon fodder in Ukraine. The DRK hasn’t fought an armed conflict since its founding. They may be experts at marching parades, but have no actual combat experience.

    • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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      5 hours ago

      I’ve been wondering if that’s why they entered the conflict. To get some experience for the military in a way that was relatively low-risk to the nation.