Russia again appeals to North Korea for soldiers. 20,000 troops are ready for the front in Ukraine

Russia is reportedly grappling with a critical shortage of personnel on the front lines in Ukraine, leading to discussions about potentially enlisting soldiers from North Korea. This move could see North Korean troops deployed to Russian border regions, thereby releasing Russian forces for more active combat roles.

Ukrainian officials suggest that such a deployment would allow Moscow to transfer thousands of soldiers to the more intense sectors of the Ukrainian front. Bohdan Nahaylo, editor-in-chief of Kyiv Post, indicated that Russia's willingness to consider North Korean support underscores a dramatic lack of manpower. "They need manpower," Nahaylo stated, referring to the possibility of North Korean soldiers taking over duties currently performed by Russian troops.

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They need manpower

Estimates from Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, suggest that Russia could redeploy between 15,000 and 20,000 combat-ready soldiers from border regions if they are replaced by North Korean personnel. This personnel deficit is also believed to be influencing Russia's tactics on the battlefield, with reports of forces resorting to smaller, three-to-four-person groups for advances instead of large-scale assaults. This strategy aims to make Russian troop movements harder for Ukrainian forces to detect, indicating the difficulties Russia faces in achieving significant progress on the front lines.

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In place of mass attacks, they are now trying to break through Ukrainian lines with groups of three or four fighters, to make them harder to spot.