Zelenskyy accuses North Korea of sending troops to Russian army

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Image- AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused North Korea on Sunday of sending troops to support Russia’s army.

Zelenskyy recently wrapped up a two-day tour of European capitals, including Berlin, London, and Paris, where he sought continued military assistance as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues into its third year.

Days after visiting several European capitals to press his case for more military and financial help in the war against invading Russian forces, Zelenskyy  in his evening address said  “We see an increasing alliance between Russia and regimes like in North Korea. It is no longer just about transferring weapons. It is actually about the transfer of people from North Korea to the occupier’s military forces.”

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force said Sunday that its air defenses had shot down 31 of 68 drones launched at Ukraine by Russia overnight into Sunday in the regions of Kyiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, Sumy and Cherkasy. A further 36 drones were “lost” over various areas, it said, likely having been electronically jammed.

The air force added that ballistic missiles struck Odesa and Poltava while Chernihiv and Sumy came under attack by a guided air missile. Local authorities didn’t report any casualties or damage.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russia had launched around 900 guided aerial bombs, more than 40 missiles and 400 drones against Ukraine over the past week.

Zelenskyy appealed on X to Ukraine’s allies to “provide the necessary quantity and quality of air defense systems” and “make decisions for our sufficient range.” Kyiv is still awaiting word from its Western partners on its repeated requests to use the long-range weapons they provide to hit targets on Russian soil.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said that 13 Ukrainian drones were shot down over three regions of Russia: six each in the Belgorod and Kursk regions, and one in the Bryansk region, all of which border Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies.