|
By Advik S Mohan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 28 October, the Government of Croatia and the Government of Ukraine had agreed to a weapons exchange deal. According to the deal, Croatia will receive financial aid for the purchase of up to 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks. In exchange, the Croatian government promised to send 30 M-84 tanks and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles alongside spare parts and ammunition to Ukraine. The Ministry of Defence of Croatia informed Ivan Anusic, the Minister of Defence of Croatia signed a memorandum of understanding with Boris Pistorius, the Federal Minister of Defence of Germany. The price of the new Leopard 2A8 tanks will be reduced by the amount to be paid by the Federal Government of Germany towards Croatia for transferring equipment to Ukraine. Anusic informed the initiative would be implemented soon, and it aimed to help Ukraine combat Russian aggression. Croatia has provided Ukraine with over EUR 300 million in assistance, since the beginning of the invasion.
On 28 October, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine held a meeting with Bjarni Benediktsson, the Prime Minister of Iceland. Zelenskyy is scheduled to attend the fourth Ukraine-Nordic Summit during the visit. The Ukrainian President praised Iceland for supporting Ukrainian membership of NATO. He stated NATO membership for Ukraine was a reliable way towards achieving a just peace. Additionally, Zelenskyy informed a unified and decisive response was necessary to deal with the involvement of North Korean troops and Russian usage of weapons provided by North Korea and Iran.
On 28 October, swissinfo reported on Yoon Suk Yeol, the President of South Korea statement on shared information on the deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine. During a phone call with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, Yoon stated the deployment of North Korean troops by Russia to Ukraine might occur sooner than expected. Additionally, Yoon informed the Government of South Korea hoped to take practical countermeasures with the EU and member states against the North Korean aggression. He also informed they would improve efforts to monitor and block illegal exchanges between Russia and North Korea. Meanwhile, von der Leyen informed the presence of North Korean troops exacerbated the Ukraine war.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 28 October, RT reported on Russian warplanes destroying a Ukrainian temporary deployment point in Kharkov Oblast. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation informed about the successful attack through a glide bomb and stated that a powerful blow was delivered to the enemy. The ministry further informed that the command staff of a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit was present at the facility. According to video footage, the destroyed facility was in the town of Volchansk, located about six kilometres away from the Russian border. The Russian government has used glide bombs to target Ukrainian fortified positions regularly.
On 28 October, the Government of the Russian Federation had accused Western countries of openly trying to interfere in the parliamentary elections in Georgia. Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation informed voters in Georgia had the right to independently choose their own future and make relevant decisions. Peskov alleged that Western countries were trying to interfere in the elections and arm-twist the Government of Georgia into following Western terms. Peskov also denied allegations that the Government of the Russian Federation was trying to influence the situation in Georgia. The comments by Peskov came amidst a dispute between the Georgian government and the Georgian opposition over election results.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 28 October, Mark Rutte, the Secretary-General of the NATO stated North Korean troops were present in the Kursk Oblast of Russia. According to Rutte, the presence of North Korean soldiers in Kursk was a significant escalation of its involvement in the Ukraine war. Rutte also stated the deployment was a dangerous expansion of the Russian war. However, Rutte also stated the deployment of North Korean troops showed the weakness and desperation of the Government of the Russian Federation. The remarks by Rutte came after Ukrainian intelligence had stated North Korean troops were prepared for combat with Ukraine. Sergey Lavrov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation responded to Rutte’s remarks by stating that the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of North Korea had signed a security and defence treaty. According to Lavrov, the public treaty contained provisions which promised assistance if one of the countries was attacked.
On 28 October, ERR News reported on Eero Rebo, a Colonel from the Estonian Defence Forces had stated Russia was exaggerating its gains in Ukraine. According to Rebo, the Russian Armed Forces achieved only victories of local importance, such as in villages already under Ukrainian control. Rebo also stated there were negative developments on the battlefield, due to weather conditions which prevented equipment sales to the battlefield. Additionally, Rebo informed the extensive firepower deployed by Russia succeeded in pushing Ukrainians out of certain areas on a tactical level. However, he also stated attacks by Ukraine on Russian ammunition depots were successful and produced results on the battlefield.
References
Kateryna Hodunova, “Croatia to provide Ukraine with 30 tanks, 30 fighting vehicles in exchange for German Leopard tanks,” The Kyiv Independent, 28 October 2024
Ulyana Krychkovska and Tetyana Oliynyk, “Zelenskyy meets with Iceland’s PM,” Ukrainska Pravda, 28 October 2024
“South Korea’s Yoon says North Korean troops’ Ukraine war deployment may come sooner than expected,” swissinfo.ch, 28 October 2024
“Russian glide bomb obliterates Ukrainian headquarters-MOD(VIDEO)” RT, 28 October 2024
“Kremlin slams ‘unprecedented’ Western election interference in Georgia,” RT, 28 October 2024
Stuart Lau and Eva Hartog, “North Korean troops are now in Kursk to help Russia, NATO confirms,” Politico, 28 October 2024
|
