Number of North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast increases to 11,000

President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on Nov. 4 that North Korea has deployed 11,000 troops to Russia's Kursk Oblast, citing Ukrainian intelligence. He expressed concern over the lack of response from Ukraine's partners despite the increasing number of North Korean troops near the Ukrainian border.

Earlier, Ukrainian military intelligence noted that over 7,000 North Korean troops were moved from Russia's Primorsky Krai towards the Ukrainian border. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also confirmed that approximately 8,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine initiated a cross-border incursion in August.

Zelensky stated that with permission to use Western long-range weapons on Russian territory, Ukraine could preemptively strike camps where North Korean forces are gathering. Kyiv has warned that North Korean troops could soon be deployed in combat, with estimates suggesting Russia may send 12,000 soldiers, including special forces, into the war. Zelensky added that Russia has confirmed North Korea's involvement to Western nations.

Ukraine open to Qatar mediating energy security with Russia

Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, stated in a Nov. 4 interview that Ukraine is not in direct talks with Russia regarding an energy ceasefire but is open to third-party mediation. This response came after reports suggested Kyiv and Moscow were discussing a mutual halt to energy facility strikes.

Previous Qatar-mediated talks reportedly collapsed in August after Ukraine’s cross-border incursion into Kursk. Although the Financial Times indicated that talks might resume, the Kremlin denied it on Oct. 30. Yermak, speaking from Montreal, Canada, confirmed no direct negotiations are ongoing and mentioned that an online conference co-organized by Qatar in August addressed Ukraine's peace formula but excluded Russian participation.

Kyiv is open to mediated agreements, with Yermak inviting Qatar or other countries to facilitate such arrangements. President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace formula includes a halt to Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy grid and stricter sanctions to weaken Russia’s attack capabilities. He proposed this ceasefire idea during a global peace summit in Switzerland in June, noting that Russia's willingness to stop strikes could indicate openness to broader peace talks.

If an agreement is reached, it would represent a major de-escalation since Russia's full-scale invasion began in early 2022. Yermak emphasized that no agreement with Russia is currently in discussion. Ukraine, meanwhile, is preparing for a difficult winter, with half of its energy infrastructure damaged from past Russian assaults in late 2023 and early 2024.

63% of Ukrainians ready to endure the war as long as necessary -survey

A survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) released on Nov. 4 found that nearly two-thirds of Ukrainians are prepared to endure the war for as long as necessary. An additional 15% said they could bear the burden for a few more months, 4% for six months, and 6% for a year, while 12% did not respond.

The survey showed that attitudes have remained mostly consistent since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, though there has been a slight decrease in those willing to endure indefinitely—from 73% in late 2023 and early 2024 to 63% by October. Support for shorter periods of resistance has increased, particularly in the south and east, where willingness to persist for a year or more dropped from 71% to 57% and 73% to 48%, respectively.

Western and central Ukraine displayed strong support and confidence in continuing the resistance. The poll, conducted from Sept. 20 to Oct. 3, included 989 respondents, excluding those who fled the country or live in Russian-occupied areas.

Ukraine faces mounting challenges as Russian forces advance in the east at an intensified pace and prepares for possible renewed energy grid attacks and blackouts this winter. The potential return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency following the Nov. 5 election adds uncertainty to future allied support for Ukraine.