Russia can throw thousands of North Korean soldiers to the front
Category
Ukraine
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Russia can throw thousands of North Korean soldiers to the front

The Russian Federation wants to bombard the battlefield with North Korean "cannon fodder"
Source:  ISW

According to the ISW team, the number of soldiers from North Korea fighting against Ukraine on the side of the Russian Federation may soon increase dramatically.

Points of attention

  • According to ISW, the training of thousands of North Korean soldiers on the territory of Russia may indicate their possible involvement in the war against Ukraine.
  • The deployment of North Korean forces can help Russia participate in priority offensive operations.
  • Experts warn of more intensive participation of the DPRK in the war against Ukraine.

The Russian Federation wants to bombard the battlefield with North Korean "cannon fodder"

According to representatives of the DPRK and Ukraine, North Korean soldiers are already operating together with the Russian invaders in Ukraine.

An insider of journalists in Ukrainian intelligence clarified that some North Korean officers are watching Russian troops and studying the battlefield in the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia.

Despite this, Ukraine has not yet seen North Korean units operating on the battlefield.

The Ukrainian official added that "several thousand" North Korean infantrymen are undergoing training on Russian territory, and that the Russian military command may transfer them to the front line in Ukraine by the end of 2024 or to the border regions of Russia to free up Russian "reserves" for combat. actions on the territory of Ukraine, — notes the American Institute for the Study of War.

Russia is increasingly actively involving the DPRK in the war against Ukraine

Foreign analysts also assumed that the North Korean military is currently operating in the occupied Donetsk region.

So far, experts have not been able to find out the extent of the North Korean grouping of troops that Russia can deploy on the front line or transfer to the Kursk region.

But these scenarios could also contribute to Russia's efforts to attract additional forces to priority offensive operations in Ukraine and continue the culmination of the Russian offensive operation that began in the summer of 2024, ISW writes.

According to analysts, the deployment of North Korean forces by the aggressor country of the Russian Federation may create opportunities for their use in Ukraine, depending on the quality, structure, placement and operational interoperability of the North Korean troops.

Category
Economics
Publication date

Ukraine received 150 million euros from the EU. Where will the funds be directed

Denis Shmyhal
Ukraine received 150 million euros from the EU. Where will the funds be directed

The European Union has provided Ukraine with a second tranche of grant aid worth €150 million to support rapid reconstruction. Part of the money will go towards school meals.

Points of attention

  • Ukraine received a second tranche from the European Union in the amount of 150 million euros for rapid reconstruction.
  • The funds will be used to provide free meals to students, restore port infrastructure, and support agriculture and critical infrastructure.
  • The EU's support demonstrates Ukraine's significant progress in implementing key reforms and moving closer to EU accession.
  • The Ukraine Facility program provides 50 billion euros by 2027 to support the country's resilience.
  • Ukraine has already received over 12 billion euros in budget support from the EU, and plans to receive additional funds by the end of the year.

What is known about the new tranche to Ukraine from the EU?

As reported by the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine on December 25, the funds will be directed to:

  • free meals for primary school students — 65 million euros,

  • restoration of port infrastructure — 50 million euros,

  • support for agriculture — 20 million euros,

  • restoration of critical infrastructure — 15 million euros.

This tranche is part of the agreement between Ukraine and the EU under the "Support to the Rapid Recovery of Ukraine" program, the total amount of which is 300 million euros.

Ukraine received the first tranche of 150 million in December 2023.

Ukraine received 4.1 billion euros under the Ukraine Facility program

This was announced by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

"This support demonstrates Ukraine's significant progress in implementing key reforms envisaged in the Plan for Ukraine - from the fight against corruption to the development of the energy sector and environmental protection," Shmyhal emphasized.

He added that consistent EU support under the Ukraine Facility program, which provides for 50 billion euros by 2027, strengthens Ukraine's resilience and brings it closer to EU accession.

The Ministry of Finance clarified that the funds received will be used to finance priority needs of the state budget, in particular in the social and humanitarian spheres.

It should be noted that for 2025, within the framework of the program Ukraine Facility Another €12.5 billion in financial assistance is planned. Since the beginning of the year, the EU has already provided Ukraine with over €12 billion in budget support. By the end of the year, Ukraine plans to receive another €4.2 billion from the European Union under the Ukraine Facility.

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