Key developments on November 5:

• Umerov confirms first fighting between Ukrainian and North Korean soldiers in Kursk oblast
• The Ukrainian Legion in Poland reportedly received more than 500 applications in a month
• North Korean military involvement in Russia’s war will prompt ‘coordinated response,’ G7 foreign ministers say
• “Zelensky wants to drag Poland into war against Russia,” says Polish Deputy Prime Minister

The first clashes between the Ukrainian armed forces and North Korean soldiers have already taken place in the Russian Kursk oblast, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed on November 5 in an interview with the TV channel South Korean KBS.

North Korea has deployed 11,000 troops in the Kursk oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the day before, citing a Ukrainian intelligence report.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation department at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, also claimed on November 4 that the first North Korean soldiers stationed in this area had come under fire.

“We identify clashes with North Korean forces, but we believe there will be more fighting in the coming weeks and we will continue to analyze and revise accordingly,” he added. Umerov said.

The clashes were small, according to Umerov.

The minister added that the DPRK soldiers were “disguised as Buryats” (an Asian ethnic group within Russian borders) and mixed with Russian soldiers, so all identities must be checked to confirm the exact number of their losses and their prisoners.

kyiv expects five units of 3,000 personnel each to be deployed along the 1,500-kilometer front line. This will bring the total number of North Koreans involved in the war to 15,000.

The Russian border region has been the scene of heavy fighting since Ukraine launched a cross-border offensive early August. Moscow has deployed North Korean troops to the Kursk oblast to reinforce the lines there while its most experienced units continue to advance in eastern Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that if Ukraine had permission to use Western long-range weapons on Russian territory, it could preemptively target “all camps” in Russia where North Korean troops are gathering.

According to ZelenskyRussia confirmed to the West the involvement of Pyongyang’s forces in the war.

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Ukrainian Legion in Poland reportedly receives over 500 applications in a month

The Ukrainian Legion’s recruitment center in Poland received more than 500 applications from Ukrainians living in 30 countries in a month, Ukrinform reported on November 5, citing the center’s officials.

THE legion was unveiled in July as a voluntary military unit made up of Ukrainian men living in Poland and trained by the Polish armed forces. THE first recruitment of volunteers This center was opened in October at the Ukrainian consulate in Lublin, eastern Poland.

The unit is part of an effort to replenish the ranks of Ukrainewhile the total war with Russia has lasted for more than two and a half years.

Most of the applications came from Poland and Czechiabut Ukrainians living in the UK, Ireland, USA and Canada have also submitted applications, Ukrinform wrote. Even if center officials believe that not all candidates will end up signing a contract, they consider the participation rate to be a good first result.

The legion will allow Ukrainians to join the fight while still being able to return to Poland after completing their service. Under martial law instituted in 2022 after the start of the full-scale war, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine without permission.

The UN estimates that 6.7 million Ukrainians were driven abroad following the total invasion of Russia. Added to this is a significant diaspora living in Europe, the United States, Canada and elsewhere since before 2022.

The first volunteers are expected to sign a contract before the end of the year and begin training at Polish training grounds. About 90 percent of the applicants were men and about 80 percent had no military experience, Ukrinform reported.

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North Korean military involvement in Russia's war to be met with 'coordinated response,' G7 foreign ministers say

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) and three key allies have expressed “grave concerns” about North Korea’s military deployment in Russia and are working on a “coordinated response,” according to the joint statement released on Monday. November 5.

In addition to the members of the G7, including the United StatesJapan, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada and the High Representative of the European Union, the statement was also signed by South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

“Several thousand DPRK troops have been deployed to Russia. The DPRK’s direct support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, in addition to showing Russia’s desperate efforts to compensate for its losses, would mark a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for Europe and India -Peace and security in the Pacific,” the statement said.

“This would constitute a further violation of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) and three key allies have expressed “grave concerns” about North Korea’s military deployment in Russia and are working on a “coordinated response,” according to the joint statement released on Monday. November 5.

In addition to the members of the G7, including the United StatesJapan, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada and the High Representative of the European Union, the statement was also signed by South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

“Several thousand DPRK troops have been deployed to Russia. The DPRK’s direct support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, in addition to showing Russia’s desperate efforts to compensate for its losses, would mark a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for Europe and India -Peace and security in the Pacific,” the statement said.

“This would constitute a further violation of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

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'Zelensky wants to drag Poland into war with Russia,' Polish deputy PM claims

By asking Poland to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky is trying to involve Warsaw in the war, Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said in an interview with Radio ZET on 4 november.

Gawkowski’s comments come amid growing diplomatic conflict between kyiv and Warsaw, which revolves around Polish support for Ukraine as well as historical grievances.

“Zelensky wants Poland firing missiles at Ukraine, which means he wants Poland to go to war, which means he wants Poland to be at war with Russia,” said Gawkowskiwho is also Minister of Digital Affairs in the co-governing left-wing coalition.

“With these statements, Zelensky wants to drag Poland into war with Russia.”

Zelensky recently criticized Poland for not yet supplying its remaining MiG-29 fighter jets despite previous agreements.

The president also said he had “constantly requested” Poland to shoot down Russian missiles flying in its direction, including to protect gas storage facilities in the town of Stryi, in Ukraine’s Lviv Oblast. , located almost 100 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border. -Polish border.

Russian drones and missiles have already between Polish airspace during attacks on Ukraine but were never intercepted by the Polish army. Poland’s allies have advised the government to show restraint when it comes to unidentified airspace violations, according to Warsaw.

“I think the last words spoken by President Zelensky are unworthy of a politician who owes a lot to Poland,” responded Gawkowski.

“The equipment transferred, the citizens taken care of… Poland is a great friend of Ukraine, a transport hub. It seemed to me that in such situations we say ‘thank you’.”

Poland has been a strong supporter of Ukraine on the world stage, campaigning for kyiv to receive all the weaponry necessary to win the war that Russia had started. It also provided Ukraine with approximately $3.5 billion in military aid since 2022 and welcomes nearly a million Ukrainian refugees.

However, bilateral relations are far from perfectthe two countries sharing long-standing unresolved grievances. Some of the recent disputes have been over resolving the issue. Massacre of Volyn led by the Ukrainian insurgent army against the Poles during World War II in 1943-44.

Gawkowski was not the only Polish official to respond to Zelensky’s criticism. Minister of Foreign Affairs Radoslaw Sikorski said his country had done more for Kyiv “than any other nation”.

“We are trying to help, but we are also a front-line country. Russia also threatens us, and everything is not possible,” he added.