Russo-Ukrainian war, day 979: North Korean troops enter battlefield
Ukraine plans to mobilize 160,000 additional troops amid reported personnel shortages as Russian forces sustain heavy assaults near Selydove.
Exclusives
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European security cannot be found in the past. The aborted Ramstein security conference was driven by nostalgia — not by the decisive action and a sense of purpose Europe needs today |
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Colombian soldiers trade jungle combat for Ukraine’s tech-driven war. Battle-forged in wars against cartels, Colombian veterans hit brutal truth in Ukraine as guerrilla tactics offer little help against Russia’s hi-tech killing zone. |
Military
New Russian Sarmat-3 armored vehicle destroyed days after first deployment. It hit a mine in Russia’s Kursk Oblast area, resulting in one death and one injury, shortly after its first battlefield appearance.
Ukraine is finalizing second and third defense lines in Zaporizhzhia Oblast to create “”fortress””. Fortifications are also being created around cities, the governor said.
ISW: Russians made progress near Pokrovsk and Selydove. The Russian military can sustain deployments of 600 troops per week for assaults near Selydove, demonstrating significant reserve capacity in the area, a Ukrainian commander reports.
As of 29 OCT 2024, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:
Intelligence and Technology
Ukraine contracts 1.8 million drones for army for next two years. Ukraine’s defense ministry contracted 1.8 million drones worth 147 billion hryvnias ($3.6 bn) for 2024-2025, marking a significant expansion of its unmanned aerial capabilities.
Russian recon drones start performing evasive maneuvers to avoid Ukrainian FPV interceptors. As Ukraine advances with FPV interceptor drones, Russian UAV operators are adopting new tactics to evade these countermeasures.
International
China aware of North Korean troops in Russia despite denials, says former US diplomat. This move could reshape regional dynamics as South Korea prepares to arm Ukraine and China can’t stay passive.
CNN: US urges China to put pressure on North Korea that sent troops to Ukraine. The United States has launched a diplomatic campaign to pressure China into intervening against North Korea’s military deployment to Ukraine.
Poland unable to maintain previous levels of military aid to Ukraine, says Duda. Polish President Andrzej Duda acknowledged that Poland’s depleted capacity for military aid may have influenced Ukraine’s recent diplomatic positioning.
Poland ready to transfer remaining MiG-29s to Ukraine if allies guarantee the security of airspace – Duda. Polish President Andrzej Duda announced on Tuesday that Poland could transfer its remaining MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, provided NATO allies guarantee and engage in the security of Polish airspace until Warsaw receives new aircraft.
Vučić: Serbia to provide Ukraine with generators, transformers worth € 8.4 mn. He also announced an upcoming European summit and said that Putin told him he believes Ukraine made its “”biggest mistake around Kursk.””
Stockholm pledges €63 mn in new military aid to Ukraine. The funds will be allocated to support Ukrainian defense industry procurements and contribute to multilateral security initiatives for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Lithuania demands stronger NATO response to North Korean-Russian cooperation. Lithuania’s president urges NATO to respond to North Korea’s military aid to Russia by providing Ukraine with long-range missiles and lifting restrictions.
Humanitarian and Social Impact
Four dead, six wounded as rescue operations conclude after night strike in Kharkiv. Two elderly women and two men were killed in their homes by Russian aerial bombs.
Six more children successfully evacuated from occupied Kherson Oblast to Ukrainian-controlled territory. In total, 224 children have been evacuated from occupied territories by volunteers, where they were subjected to forced integration into the “”Russian world”” through propaganda and education.
Over 1700 children are considered missing in Ukraine due to war – Ministry of Internal Affairs. More than 52,000 Ukrainians, including 1,700 children, are currently listed in the national missing persons registry.
Ukraine identifies 721 war crimes suspects, secures 133 convictions. Ukraine’s prosecution office has documented 316 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, affecting victims across age groups and genders.
Political and Legal Developments
Ukraine plans to mobilize 160,000 additional personnel. This statement from Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Lytvynenko comes amid reports of personnel shortages in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which critics attribute to numerous exemptions in mobilization law.
UK sanctions Russian disinfo agencies for efforts to undermine Ukraine and Western support. UK imposed sanctions on three Russian agencies and their leaders for running disinformation campaigns and fake news networks targeting Ukraine.
Politico: Ukraine criticizes global body’s failure to blacklist Russia for financial crimes. Ukraine blasts FATF’s decision to keep Russia off its “”blacklist”” of countries with the worst financial crime issues, arguing that Russia poses a threat to global security and finance.
New Developments
Ukrainian military receives 65 ambulances from NATO. This latest ambulance delivery follows a separate contribution of 18 ambulances from Slovakia to Ukrainian medical services on 25 October.
Small number of North Korean military already inside Ukraine, US officials told CNN. Two intelligence officials anticipate the number of North Korean soldiers to increase as they complete Russian training and deploy to the frontlines.
Pentagon: No restrictions on US weapons use against North Korean forces. The Pentagon warned on 28 Oct. that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to eastern Russia for training, with some moving closer to the Ukrainian border.
ISW: Russian forces deploy up to 600 troops weekly for infantry assaults in one direction. Putin acknowledged ongoing economic challenges during a government meeting but claimed Russia could sustain the longer war.
France to train and outfit another Ukrainian brigade with equipment, Zelenskyy says. Ukraine has secured an agreement with France for additional military aid, equipping a second brigade with French weapons.
“”We’ll help you with anything.”” Russia’s gamble with North Korea sends message to China, warns former US diplomat. Russia’s decision to deploy North Korean troops near European borders isn’t just about Ukraine, says Matt Brazil, a former US diplomat and China expert.
South Korean intelligence confirms North Korean troops moved to Russian front lines. South Korea’s spy agency reveals North Korean troops and generals may have entered Ukraine battlefields, while Russia provides language training and continues military cooperation.
Read our earlier daily review here.
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