North Korea has sent pilots to Russia to join its war in Ukraine

North Korea has reportedly sent pilots capable of flying Russian warplanes to participate in the war in Ukraine, Newsweek reported on Oct. 22, citing South Korean television network TV Chosun.

Moscow plans to involve around 10,000 North Korean soldiers in the full-scale war against Ukraine in the coming months, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that the first group of 2,600 soldiers would be deployed to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine made a cross-border incursion in August and still holds significant territory.

North Korea denied these reports, calling them "groundless rumors."

A South Korean government official claimed North Korean fighter pilots were sent to Vladivostok, Russia, ahead of the first deployment of ground troops on Oct. 8, according to TV Chosun. This move could involve further training on Russian combat aircraft.

If confirmed, this would mark the first time North Korean pilots have been stationed outside their country since the Vietnam War. North Korean pilots also participated in combat operations during the 1973 Yom Kippur War in Syria and Egypt.

A Western official told The Kyiv Independent on Oct. 15 that 10,000 North Korean soldiers had already arrived in Russia. Budanov said the number is 11,000, and they would be "ready to fight" by Nov. 1. A video purportedly showing these soldiers at a military training camp inside Russia has surfaced online.

Moscow and Pyongyang have deepened military cooperation. North Korea has supplied Russia with ballistic missiles and large amounts of artillery shells.

South Korea considering sending military personnel to Ukraine to monitor North Korean troops

South Korea is considering sending personnel to Ukraine to monitor North Korean troops that may be involved in Russia’s full-scale war, Yonhap reported on Oct. 22, citing a government source.

"There is a possibility that personnel will be sent to Ukraine to monitor the tactics and combat capabilities of North Korean special forces dispatched in support of Russia," the source said.

Moscow plans to deploy around 10,000 North Korean soldiers to aid its war effort in Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, confirmed that the first group of 2,600 soldiers will be stationed in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine began a cross-border incursion in August and still controls significant territory. Budanov stated that approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers are already in Russia and will be combat-ready by Nov. 1.

If sent, the South Korean team may include military intelligence personnel to analyze North Korean tactics or participate in interrogations of captured troops.

South Korea is also reportedly considering providing armed support to Ukraine. While it has only provided humanitarian aid so far, it has indirectly supplied artillery shells via the U.S. In June, South Korea announced it would reconsider its policy of not supplying Ukraine with weapons after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signed a security agreement.

"Response measures will be taken in steps while monitoring North Korea-Russia military cooperation," the source told Yonhap. The source added that South Korea will prioritize sending defensive weapons and may consider providing lethal arms indirectly.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimates North Korea could deploy four brigades, totaling 12,000 soldiers, including 1,500 special forces, to the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Kostin resigns

Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin has announced his resignation following a National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) meeting on Oct. 22, addressing the issue of fake disability certificates among government officials.

In a statement on Telegram, Kostin acknowledged widespread abuse within Ukraine's prosecution system, adding that inspections and criminal investigations are underway at all levels.

Kostin expressed support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s position that unlawful disability decisions, along with related pension and benefits, must be revoked, and that both legislative reforms and personal accountability, including political responsibility, are necessary.

"I believe it is right to announce my resignation from the post of Prosecutor General," Kostin stated, thanking Zelenskyy and the Verkhovna Rada for their trust.

Russians breach defence line near Chasiv Yar 

Russian forces have breached Ukraine’s defensive line near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, though the city has not been lost, according to Ivan Petrychak, a representative of the 24th Mechanised Brigade, during a national newscast.

Petrychak confirmed ongoing intense fighting in the area, noting that while the enemy broke through the defense line, "there is no talk of a critical failure or the loss of Chasiv Yar."

The situation has been tense for the past month, with daily Russian assaults. Petrychak explained that Russian forces exploited weather conditions, including heavy fog, to cross a canal, but it is now blocked, and efforts are underway to contain the situation. All available brigade forces are focused on eliminating the enemy where they are currently trapped.

Despite being heavily outnumbered, Ukrainian forces continue to defend against artillery, missile, and airstrikes in the region.