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What did North Korea's troops mean for Kursk?
Summary
A look back at the security picture around 28 October 2024, from reports of North Korean units in Russia to heavy fighting near Selydove.
What was the security picture in Ukraine on 28 October 2024? The preceding days had brought reports of foreign troops in the war, continued Russian strikes on cities and fighting in the east.
On 23 October, the U.S. State Department said it had confirmed evidence that North Korean troops were present in Russia and preparing to travel to the battlefield in Ukraine. South Korea said Pyongyang had promised to send up to 10,000 troops. By 25 October, Ukraine reported that the first North Korean units had entered active "warzones" in Russia's Kursk Oblast, reportedly under the command of Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov.
Strikes on cities
On 25 October, a Russian drone hit a residential building in Kyiv's Solomianskyi District, killing one person and injuring five. The same day, a Russian missile attack on a residential area of Dnipro killed five people and injured 21.
Pressure in the east
On 24 October, Ukraine's Armed Forces reported significant Russian advances in Selydove and predicted the city could be captured within days. The Ukrainian military news page DeepState had reported heavy fighting around the city a day earlier, while Russia's Defence Ministry claimed the capture of the Donetsk Oblast villages of Mykolaivka and Serebrianka.
Financial backing
On 23 October, the U.S. Defense Department finalised a US$20 billion loan to Ukraine for military and economic support, part of a collective US$50 billion loan among G7 members.
