Putin will use North Korean troops as 'cannon fodder' at front - Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed the first deaths among North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region (Russia). He believes that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will use the soldiers as “cannon fodder,” reports Kyodo News.
Zelenskyy did not say how many North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded in battles with the Ukrainian Defense Forces. According to him, about 12,000,000 DPRK troops are ready to be used in the war, but it is necessary to “get evidence” before disclosing the exact number of victims.
“He predicted that many North Korean soldiers will be sent to the frontlines of the war in the future, and it is 'indisputable' that Russian President Vladimir Putin will use them 'as cannon fodder,'” Kyodo News quoted.
Earlier, amid growing concerns over the involvement of the DPRK military in the Russian-Ukrainian war, US President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to fire long-range missiles at targets in Russia. Since then, air attacks have intensified on both sides, and Moscow has used a medium-range missile for the first time.
In early November, at a press conference following the summit of the European Political Community, Zelenskyy already confirmed the first losses among North Korean troops in the Kursk region.
According to Western media, a massive strike by Storm Shadow missiles on the enemy headquarters in Maryino (Kursk region) last week killed a North Korean general and injured several other officers.
The general's identity has not been disclosed. However, it is known that Pyongyang sent Colonel General Kim Jong Bok to Russia to control the Storm Corps special forces.
According to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Anatolii Barhylevych, North Korean troops have already participated in battles against Ukrainian forces under the guise of “the indigenous population of the Far East.”
