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By Neha Tresa George and Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 24 October, Swissinfo reported on the Russian attacks in the eastern Ukraine. According to the regional authorities, six people were dead and 10 were injured. Oleh Syniehubov, the governor of the Kupiansk region reported on a thermobaric ammunition attack in the town that wounded 10 people. He said a shop, the town market and a two-storey building were targeted in the attack. Russian forces were reportedly advancing slowly back to the Kupiansk town, the place where they were pushed back in 2022. Increased Russian shelling was reported in the strategic city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk that killed three people. Russian troops were seen to make advances in the coal-mining town of Selydove, southeast of Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar. However, the regional authorities have not yet revealed whether the Russians have entered the town.
On 24 October, Ukraine’s military intelligence services reported on the North Korean troops deployed in the Kursk Oblast. It observed 12,000 troops including 500 officers and three generals entering conflict. In a statement, Ukraine said: “Moscow has appointed Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov responsible for control of the training and adaptation of North Korean troops.” Whereas in the BRICS summit, Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President called the war attempts to counter Russia as “Illusory.” He said: “I will say directly that these are illusory calculations, that can be made only by those who do not know Russia's history.” On the same day, Kharkiv’s regional governor reported on the injury of four following a Russian strike in one of the frontline towns in Kupiansk in northeast Ukraine. Russian forces have been observed making advances near Kupiansk and nearby villages for several months in 2022, post Ukrainian capture back, it has been advancing slowly towards the northern outskirts of Kupiansk.
On 24 October, The Moscow Times reported on the statements of Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. He emphasised “just peace” and called for an end to the war in Ukraine. On the final day of the summit, he said: “We need peace in Ukraine, a just peace in line with the UN Charter, international law, and the UN General Assembly resolution.” He also spoke on the importance of following “the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of all states.” Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President and Guterres were set to meet the next day for direct talks.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 24 October, RT reported on the ratification of a bilateral defence treaty with North Korea in the Russian state of Duma. It was earlier signed in June, following Putin’s visit to North Korea. The agreement highlights the “comprehensive cooperation between the countries that included national security issues.” They vowed not to engage with third parties that disrupted others’ sovereignty and pledged to support each other in case of any attacks. Andrey Rudenko, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister believed that the agreement would upgrade the relationship with North Korea to a new level. He said: “This treaty is open, it will be published, there are no secret points in it. Everything is written clearly.” He also expressed Russia’s aim to counter the growing threats from the West. He also warned against the deployment of strategic nuclear weapons in the Asia-Pacific due to the growing military alliances. The decision of ratification of the agreement came amidst increasing allegations against Russia over the deployment of North Korean soldiers on the battlefield. When asked about this during the BRICS summit, Putin cited the “Comprehensive treaty” signed between them and said that whatever they did under this agreement was their business.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 24 October, yle reported on the closure of two Russian border crossings in Finland. According to the border guard forces, the borders of Parikkala and Lieksa have been unused for years. Samuli Murtonen, the deputy commander of the North Karelia Border Guard said: “The decision does not change the prevailing situation in any way and does not affect local residents.” The decision to close the borders was taken by the Finnish and Russian border guard officials earlier this month. One of the reasons behind it was “suspected instrumentalised migration by Russia” which prompted the Finnish government to close all crossing points along the eastern border last year. With the decision to close the border, the Finnish government was supposed to amend the regulation, erasing references to the Parikkala and Lieksa border posts. Practical measures had already started along the borders, including the removal of signs.
THE GLOBAL FALLOUTS
On 25 October, Anadolu Agency reported on the statements made by Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s President, over the alleged deployment of North Korean troops in Russia. At a joint press conference following a summit with Andrzej Duda, the Polish President, he pledged that Seoul would not “sit idle.” He said: “If North Korea dispatches special forces to the Ukraine war, we will provide support to Ukraine step by step and consider taking necessary measures for the security of the Korean Peninsula.” South Korea and Poland decried the deployment and called for joint efforts to counter the security threats.
References
“Ukraine updates: Seoul considers sending weapons to Kyiv,” Deutsche Welle, 25 October 2024
“Finland permanently shuts 2 border crossings with Russia,” Yle, 24 October 2024
“UN Chief Guterres Calls for ‘Just Peace’ in Ukraine,” The Moscow Times¸25 October 2024
“Russian parliament ratifies security treaty with North Korea,” RT, 24 October 2024
“Russian attacks kill six in Ukraine’s east,” Swissinfo.ch, 24 October 2024
“South Korea to consider sending arms to Ukraine: President Yoon,” Anadolu Agency, 24 October 2024
“Russian lawmakers ratify pact with North Korea as US confirms that Pyongyang sent troops to Russia,” The Washington Post, 24 October 2024
“New centers of power, sovereign equality and Western coercion: What’s in the BRICS Kazan Declaration,” RT, 24 October 2024
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