Author: dmitriy.vasyura@gmail.com

North Korea has provided Russia with 50 domestically produced self-propelled howitzers and 20 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), the Financial Times (FT) reported on Nov. 16, citing a Ukrainian intelligence assessment.

The additional support by Pyongyang come as 11,000 North Korean troopsare amassing in Russia's Kursk Oblast, training alongside Russian troops in its fight against Ukraine.

A Pentagon spokesperson said on Nov. 13 that some North Korean troops have already been deployed to fight along Russian forces.

According to FT, some of the delivered weapons have been moved to Kursk Oblast to assist in Russia's effort to regain control of the territory it lost to Ukrainian forces earlier this year. The weapons include North Korean-made 170mm M1989 self-propelled howitzers as well as updated 240mm MLRS systems.

The reliability of North Korean-made weapons has previously come into question, with reports by South Korea's intelligence agency that Pyongyang previously sent weapons made in the 1970s to Moscow.

With Russia's military stocks running low and domestic production capacity simultaneously hampered by Western sanctions, North Korea has been shaping up as Russia's leading weapons supplier, providing Moscow with extensive military packages

North Korea has previously provided Russia with as many as 4.8 million artillery shells, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said in June.

Both Kyiv and Washington have previously said that Russia has been using North Korean-produced missiles to attack Ukraine. In March of this year, Ukrainian prosecutors reported that Russia had fired around 50 such missiles to attack six Ukrainian oblasts since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Increased military support by Pyongyang started rolling into Russia after the signing of an agreement in June during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the North Korean capital. The agreement pledged to provide each other aid if either country is attacked, in addition to other military and humanitarian support.

On Nov. 12, North Korea formalized the mutual defense treaty with Russia, while Russian lawmakers unanimously approved the treaty last week, and President Vladimir Putin signed it into law the week prior.

As alliances between Russia and North Korea continue to deepen, South Korean relations with Ukraine also continue to grow.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said at a press conference on Nov. 7. that the country does not rule out providing arms to Ukraine. South Korea has previously provided Ukraine with humanitarian and non-lethal aid but refused to provide weapons, citing legislative restrictions.

Russia producing thermobaric drones, capable of causing ‘simply terrifying’ damage to civilians, AP reportsThermobaric warheads create a wave of high pressure and heat that is capable of penetrating thick walls, AP reported. The damage caused by thermobaric attack drones would cause damage that would be “simply terrifying” for civilian populations to endure, including collapsed lungs, crushed eyeballs, a…The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

At a Polish training center, Ukrainian Legion volunteers swore allegiance to Ukraine. The soldiers began intensive training under the guidance of Polish instructors.

On Saturday, November 16, the first group of volunteers of the Ukrainian Legion took the oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people at one of the training centers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, according to UNN.

Taking the oath is one of the most important and solemn events in a serviceman's life. For the Legion volunteers, this moment is special, as their decision to stand up for Ukraine is conscious and decisive. The unit is formed of highly motivated soldiers for whom defending their homeland from the aggressor is a matter of honor,

– emphasized Petro Gorkusha, a representative of the Legion command.

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It is noted that the soldiers have now begun an intensive training course, which includes firearms training (including elements of CQB – Close-quarters battle), tactical medicine, mine safety, topography and other necessary disciplines. The training is conducted by experienced Polish instructors.

Recall

The first group of volunteers of the Ukrainian Legion signed contracts in Lublin and began 35 days of basic training. The recruiting center received about 700 applications from Ukrainians from all over Europe.

Russia recently began producing thermobaric drones to be used alongside decoy drones in Ukraine, which are capable of causing severe damage to civilians, an investigation by the Associated Press (AP) revealed on Nov. 16.

While thermobaric warheads have reportedly been previously used by Russia in Ukraine on missiles, their use on attack drones would mark an escalation of the warhead's use.

Thermobaric warheads create a wave of high pressure and heat that is capable of penetrating thick walls, AP reported. The damage caused by thermobaric attack drones would cause damage that would be "simply terrifying" for civilian populations to endure, including collapsed lungs, crushed eyeballs, and brain damage, according to a source familiar with Russian drone production.

While controversial, thermobaric munitions are not prohibited under international law.

According to the AP investigation, the thermobaric weapons would be deployed alongside decoy drones meant to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. Decoy drones have been regularly used in recent months as Russia has increased its drone attack on Ukrainian cities since the beginning of September.

The Ukrainian Air Force previously said that Russia launched at least 4,300 Shahed-type attack drones and similar UAVs imitating Shaheds against Ukraine between August and October 2024.

The Russian production of thermobaric drones, codenamed Operation False Target, is currently in production in Russia’s Alabuga Special Economic Zone in the country's Tatarstan Republic.

Russia continues to use drones to overwhelm Ukrainian cities ahead of expected attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities ahead of the winter months. The use of thermobaric drones would likely be used primarily to penetrate thick walls and underground energy substation, ideal for targeting energy facilities.

In recent months, Iran and China have continue to supply components for Russian attack drones.

Reuters reported on Sept. 25 citing European intelligence sources that Russia has secretly established a development and production program in China for attack drones to be used in the war in Ukraine. While Iran has continuously produced Shahed-type drones for Russia's use in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war.

The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell reportedly informed European nations of "convincing" evidence of Chinese production "of lethal aid" to Russia, ahead of an upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers on Nov. 18, the German media outlet Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reported, citing three EU officials.

China has positioned itself as neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war but has simultaneously deepened economic ties with Moscow and backed the country against Western sanctions.

Beijing has also emerged as one of Russia's leading sources of dual-use goods that feed the Russian defense industry.

EU has ‘convincing’ evidence of reported Chinese attack drone production for Russia, media reports“We have had reports from intelligence sources on the existence of a factory inside China producing drones which are shipped to Russia,” a senior EU official told Politico on Nov. 15.The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

Russian troops launched about 15 attacks on Nikopol district using Grad rocket launchers, artillery and drones. A 75-year-old woman was injured, and residential buildings and critical infrastructure were damaged.

In Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovs'k region, a woman was injured in the shelling on November 16, and houses, a transport company, power lines and a gas pipeline were damaged. This was reported by the head of the Dnipropetrovs'k RMA Serhiy Lysak, UNN reports.

Shelling from Grad rocket launchers and artillery. Attacks by drones. During the day, Nikopol district was under enemy attack almost fifteen times. The aggressor targeted Nikopol, Marhanetska and Myrivska communities,

– the statement said.

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It is noted that a 75-year-old woman was injured. She was provided with medical care. She will be treated on an outpatient basis.

Lysak also said that a transport company, a five-story building, 10 private houses and 10 outbuildings, 3 garages, solar panels, a greenhouse, a power line and a gas pipeline were damaged.

Russian troops carried out 464 strikes in Zaporizhzhia region – RMANov 16 2024, 05:41 AM • 32926 views