North Korea identified as the most significant challenge for Ukraine by the intelligence head.
According to Ukraine's intelligence chief Budanow, it's North Korea, a close ally of Russia, that poses the most significant threat to their country, with " troubling" quantities of ammo and artillery being shipped over. Speaking at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference in Kyiv, Budanow stated, "Of all Russia's allies, North Korea is our top concern." He went on to explain that while North Korea's military support to Russia is aiding the intensity of the battles, describing it as "particularly impactful."
Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, had expressed his desire to strengthen ties with Russia during meetings with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu last week. Ukraine is closely monitoring North Korea's weapons shipments to Russia and observing their impact on the battlefield. "There's a clear connection," Budanow said, "They're shipping out massive amounts of artillery, which is a cause for concern."
Russia, aside from external support, is also investing in its own weapons. This includes the enhanced production of Iskander missiles. "We're now noticing an alarming increase in the usage of Iskander-M," Budanow commented. Guided bombs, he noted, are causing trouble on the front line, with their production having been significantly increased.
In response to continuous Russian missile attacks, Ukraine has started manufacturing its own weapons and is urging the West for greater assistance. However, Western allies often tread carefully to prevent direct conflict with Russia.
There are rumors that the US and UK might permit Ukraine to utilize longer-range weapons against Russian targets. A decision, however, was postponed during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House last week.
The Head of the Intelligence Service, Budanow, identified North Korea as Ukraine's top concern due to its close alliance with Russia and the significant amount of ammunition and artillery being shipped. To address this threat, Ukraine is closely monitoring North Korea's weapons shipments to Russia and evaluating their impact on the battlefield.
