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NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Gerry Connolly believes that Russia's weakness is that dictator Vladimir Putin wants to send North Korean soldiers to war in Ukraine.

Gerry Connolly stated this in an interview with Radio Liberty.

Participation of DPRK troops in the war in Ukraine

According to the NATO PA President, the North Koreans now want to gain combat experience. The DPRK army is one of the largest in the world, but it has no combat experience at all. The North Koreans last fought during the Korean War (1950-1953). And that's been more than 70 years, and there are no soldiers left from that war.

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— To gain combat experience — where can you go for it if you are North Korea? Well, the Russians invited them to fight in Ukraine. I think there are clear goals that the North Koreans are setting for themselves, — says Gerry Connolly.

He says the North Koreans' involvement in the war in Ukraine demonstrates a certain weakness in Russia because, frankly, Russia's potential is exhausted.

— Russian casualties are estimated at 600,000 killed, wounded and missing. These figures are already approaching the levels of World War II in the early stages of Operation Barbarossa after 1941. I think this is not so much a cause for concern as a reason to look at — what does this say about the modern Russian army? — Gerry Connolly noted.

US Levers of Influence on North Korea

NATO PA President Connolly believes that the US has no leverage over North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.

— Well, Donald Trump can meet with Kim Jong-un again and tell him how great he is and exchange love letters. But, of course, this will not have any effect on the behavior of the North Koreans. North Korea will do whatever it wants, Connolly noted.

According to him, during the Korean War, Russia was North Korea's main partner, and now it is the DPRK that supplies the Russians with weapons and troops.

The same applies to China. For example, Chinese leaders such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai and their associates were trained in Moscow. And it was Russia that gave weapons to the Chinese revolutionaries who eventually seized power in China, says Gerry Connolly.

And now Russia is very much hoping for help from China.

— This is also a sign of how Vladimir Putin's influence has diminished and vulnerability has grown. The fact that he must turn to these countries to continue his terrible war in Ukraine says a lot, summed up Gerry Connolly.

Recall that the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, announced that as early as November 1, 11,000 soldiers from North Korea will be ready to fight against Ukraine on the side of the Russians.

Former Vladivostok Mayor Sentenced to 15 Years for Corruption Goes to Fight in Ukraine Vladislav Kravtsov

Convicted ex-mayor of Vladivostok Pushkarev went to war in Ukraine/Collage 24 Channel

Former mayor of Russian Vladivostok Igor Pushkarev is going to war in Ukraine. He was sentenced to 15 years for corruption in 2019.

Russian media reports this. This is already the second case when the convicted Russian mayor of Vladivostok is sent to fight against our state, reports 24 Channel.

What is known about sending the former mayor of Vladivostok to war

Russian propagandists reported that the information about sending Igor Pushkarev to the front was reported by his lawyer Ruslan Omelchenko. According to the Russian, the former mayor of Vladivostok signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry, after which he will go to war.

There are currently no other details, such as where exactly the former mayor of Vladivostok will serve.

In 2019, former Vladivostok mayor Igor Pushkarev was convicted of bribery on an especially large scale, abuse of power, and commercial bribery. The court sentenced him to 15 years in a maximum security penal colony.

According to Russian media, during his time as mayor from 2009 to 2015, Pushkarev received bribes totaling 75 million rubles (32 million hryvnia). In addition, the court found that his relatives received 471.7 million rubles (202 million hryvnia) from Pushkarev's illegal activities.

Interestingly, Pushkarev is the second former mayor of Vladivostok to go to war in Ukraine. Thus, in December 2023, Oleg Gumenyuk, who served as mayor of Vladivostok from April 2019 to May 2021, went to the front. He was sentenced to 12 years in a bribery case.

In Lviv region, unknown persons damaged the graves of deceased Ukrainian servicemen. Now the police are investigating the circumstances of the incident and the perpetrators.

This was reported by the deputy of the Lviv City Council Yevhen Boyko and the police of the Lviv region.

Desecration of military graves in Lviv

Unknown persons damaged the graves of our fallen servicemen at the Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv.

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Yevhen Boyko reported that late at night the perpetrators damaged 17 graves of fallen servicemen, 3 graves of political prisoners and 2 burial sites of volunteers.

Law enforcement agencies reported that an investigative task force and employees of other services are currently working at the scene.

— Law enforcement officers are taking all measures to identify the perpetrators who desecrated the defenders' graves, the report says.

It is noted that the issue of the legal classification of the event is being resolved.

The movement of DPRK troops to Russia is recorded by satellite: the TsPD showed photos Dmitry Usik

DPRK troops in Russia/Collage 24 ChannelMore interesting audio newsListenListen to this news00:0000:55xAudio synthesized using AI.Listen to this news00:0000:55xAudio synthesized using AI.

Every day there is more and more evidence of North Korea being drawn into the war on the side of Russia. Thus, satellite images of the transfer of DPRK troops have appeared.

This was reported by the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council, Andrey Kovalenko.

DPRK troops are moving to Russia

The movement of DPRK troops to Russia is recorded by satellite. Up to 12 thousand troops, special forces numbering 1,500 soldiers have already been deployed in Vladivostok, Kovalenko points out.

The head of the Central Intelligence Agency added that South Korean intelligence, like Ukrainian intelligence, monitors everything and knows everything.

DPRK Troops Move to Russia/photo Yonhap News

Earlier, the National Intelligence Service of South Korea stated that seven ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet delivered approximately 1,500 North Korean special forces from Chongjin, Hamhin and Musudan to Vladivostok. They did this between October 8 and 13. At the same time, it is expected that the DPRK will soon send a second batch of troops to Russia.

Also recently, the Internet showed how North Korean soldiers are being equipped in Russian uniforms at the Sergievsky training ground in Russia.

From Saturday evening and the night of October 20, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine with ballistic missiles, Shahed-type attack drones and unidentified UAVs.

Shelling of Ukraine on October 20: the result of air defense work

The occupiers launched ballistic missiles from the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea, and the attack drones — from Yeysk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

In total, the Air Force's radio-technical troops detected 51 aerial targets, including 49 drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

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As of the morning of October 20, our aviation, anti-aircraft gunners, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups shot down 31 enemy UAVs within the Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky, Zhytomyr, Lviv, Odessa, Sumy, Poltava, Cherkasy, Kiev, Nikolaev, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions.

Another 13 drones were lost locally and two flew away Belarus.

The full-scale war in Ukraine has been going on for 970 days.

The situation in the cities can be monitored on the interactive map of military operations in Ukraine and on the map of air raids in Ukraine.

Russia attacked by more than 100 UAVs: in Dzerzhinsk, an explosives plant could have been hit Dmitry Usik

UAV attack on Russia/Collage on Channel 24

On the night of October 20, Russian regions were attacked by UAVs again. The enemy reported the destruction of more than a hundred drones.

The largest number was recorded in the skies over the Kursk region, but drones also flew over the territory of at least 6 more regions. What is known about the night attack on Russia, 24 Channel reports.

Attack on Russia and strikes on Dzerzhinsk

Thus, the Russian Defense Ministry reported the destruction of 110 Ukrainian drones during the night. It is noted that 43 UAVs were allegedly destroyed over the Kursk region, 27 over Lipetsk, 18 over Oryol, 8 over Nizhny Novgorod, 7 over Belgorod, 6 over Bryansk, and one over the Moscow region.

In particular, the Russians are reporting an attack on the industrial zone in Dzerzhinsk, in the Novgorod region. This is probably a strike on one of the largest factories producing explosives – the Sverdlov plant. Its workshops may produce ammunition, artillery shells, and KABs. Locals report at least 7 hits.

Strike on plant in Dzherzhinsk: watch the video

However, the Russians themselves were only able to provide information that 4 fire department employees allegedly received minor injuries. It is indicated that they have already been sent home. Russian services are working at the scene.

UAV attack on Russian plant: watch the video

On the night of October 20, Russia carried out another attack on Kyiv, using about a dozen attack drones.

This was reported by the head of the KGVA Sergey Popko.

— Another air attack on Kiev. This night, the Russian army again used UAVs. They were launched from the southern and northeastern directions. Loitering munitions approached Kyiv in several waves, — he notes.

Shelling of Kyiv on the night of October 20, 2024

During the night, the air raid siren was sounded twice in the capital and lasted for about three hours in total.

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UAVs were neutralized on the outskirts and on the territory of Kyiv.

Preliminary, there were no destructions in the capital, no information about casualties was received.

The operational summary data is being updated and clarified.

Recall that on the night of October 19 Russia has again fired guided air-to-air missiles, Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones and unidentified drones at Ukraine

The full-scale war in Ukraine has been going on for 970 days. The situation in the cities can be monitored on the interactive map of military operations in Ukraine and on the map of air raids in Ukraine.

Drones attack Nizhny Novgorod region: Sverdlov plant under attack Andrey Shlyakhtin

Drones attacked the Sverdlov plant in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod Region/Collage 24 Channel

Unknown drones reached the Nizhny Novgorod region of Russia in the early morning of October 20. In particular, in the city of Dzerzhinsk, the Sverdlov plant, which officially produces “industrial” explosives, came under attack.

Russian Telegram channels reported the drone attack at about 5 a.m. According to them, shots and explosions were heard at first, and then smoke began to rise over the city, Channel 24 reports.

Drones attack Dzerzhinsk

According to locals, white smoke is visible near the Sverdlov plant. Before that, at least 10 explosions were heard over the city.

Shots and sounds of explosions in Dzerzhinsk: watch the video

The occupiers also traditionally claim to have shot down air targets. However, judging by the footage from the scene, there are still several missed ones.

Earlier, Russian monitoring resources wrote that drones were flying towards the Nizhny Novgorod region.

The occupiers have not yet officially commented on the attack on the Sverdlov plant.

The moment of the explosion at the Sverdlov plant in Dzerzhinsk: watch the video

What is known about the Sverdlov plant in Dzerzhinsk

This is a city-forming enterprise, part of the military-industrial complex of Russia. The occupiers claim that it is one of the largest Russian manufacturers of industrial explosives for the mining and oil and gas industries, seismic and geophysical work.

However, you can find information on the Internet that it produces various defense products, including artillery shells, aviation bombs, including KABs, ammunition for engineering troops and helicopter mining systems, cumulative anti-tank guided missiles, warheads for air defense missile systems. The plant uses all available methods of loading – pressing, screw forging, pouring. This allows it to load almost all types of ammunition. It is also the only producer of octogen and hexogen in Russia.

What the Sverdlov plant in Dzerzhinsk looks like/Photo taken from social networks

After a full-scale invasion, the plant is under sanctions from Ukraine, the EU countries, Canada, the USA, Great Britain, Japan and Switzerland.

Let's add that at night drones also attacked the Kursk, Bryansk and Oryol regions. Explosions were heard there, and the hostile authorities traditionally convinced about a “successful shootdown” and that there were no casualties or damage.

During the time that explosions were heard in Kyiv on the night of October 18, air defense forces neutralized all drones flying in capital.

Explosions in Kyiv tonight: what is known

Explosions in Kyiv began to be heard at approximately half past ten in the evening on October 17, when drones launched by the Russians were heading to the capital.

The head of the city military administration, Sergei Popko, confirmed the work of the air defense at about one in the morning on October 18.

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Two hours later, people were already allowed to leave their shelters.

In the morning, the head of the KGVA noted that the drone attack, which is still ongoing in a number of regions, has become one of the most massive.

The enemy's target was Ukraine's infrastructure.

Combat operations in Kyiv's airspace lasted more than four and a half hours.

All UAVs heading to the capital were neutralized by the defenders of the sky.

According to the operational summary, the explosions in Kyiv tonight passed without destruction or casualties.

Kyiv on map

Kyiv is located in the north of Ukraine, on both banks of the Dnieper.

On the right bank of the river are seven districts of Kyiv (Goloseevsky, Obolonsky, Pechersky, Podolsky, Svyatoshinsky, Solomensky, Shevchenkovsky).

On the left bank are three (Darnitsky, Desnyansky and Dnieprovsky).

Photo: Google Maps

The full-scale war in Ukraine has been going on for 968 days now.

You can monitor the situation in cities on the interactive map of military operations in Ukraine and on the air raid alarm map in Ukraine.

The occupiers announced a drone attack on Moscow: there was loud noise near the Russian capital Andrey Shlyakhtin

Explosions were heard near Moscow: drones attacked the capital of Russia/Collage by Channel 24

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that on the night of October 20, unknown drones allegedly tried to attack the capital of Russia. Traditionally, he insists that the attack was repelled.

There was allegedly only one UAV. It was shot down in the Ramenskoye urban district, Sobyanin said.

After a long break, drones flew to Moscow again

Sobyanin said that this drone, whose attack was allegedly repelled, was flying specifically to Moscow. As a result of the work of the air defense forces, debris fell.

He adds that there was allegedly no damage or casualties at the site of their fall. True, emergency services specialists are still working on the scene.

The Moscow mayor did not provide more details. True, Russian media reported that some flights were delayed at Zhukovsky Airport and Domodedovo, and rescheduled at Sheremetyevo.

Earlier, Russian monitoring resources noted that drones were flying into the Moscow Region from Oryol. Explosions were also heard in the latter.

By the way, the last time drones reached the Moscow Region was in early September. There were a series of powerful explosions and airports were closed. The plant in Kolomna, where Iskanders, various missile technology systems, air defense systems, and many other weapons are manufactured, could also have been hit.

In addition, a military school burned in Mokva in October. At that time, the cause was said to be a UAV attack, but this information has not been confirmed to this day.