Key developments on October 15:North Korea sent 10,000 soldiers over to Russia, a Western source told the Kyiv Independent. The Western diplomat told the Kyiv independent that it was unclear what type of soldiers these were or what their roles are. The Kyiv Independent reached out to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, but received no response at the time of publication. The Ukraine’s military Intelligence (HUR) declined comment. As Russia and North Korea strengthen military ties, Western experts and diplomats stress that this shows Moscow‘s growing need for resources to wage its costly war in Ukraine. John Foreman CBE (the former U.K. defense attache to Moscow from 2019-2022) told the Kyiv Independent that it was a clear indication of how far Russia’s military had fallen in the last 2.5 years. The North Korean military had announced that they would join Russian forces in Donetsk Oblast in the following month as part of this alliance. “This is not just about transferring arms. The Kyiv Independent was unable to verify the reports that North Korean officers had been killed in a Ukrainian rocket strike in Russian-occupied territories. These reports have not been confirmed by more than one intelligence source. Officials from Ukraine and the United States claim that North Korea is supplying Russia with large quantities of artillery and ballistic missiles since 2023. “With the beginning of the ‘heating seasons,’ we can expect major Russian strikes on energy sector,” Lytvynenko stated. According to an International Energy Agency report, Ukraine could face a shortage of electricity of 6 gigawatts in the winter due to the attacks. This is one-third of what is expected to be the peak demand. The military claims that there are no intact buildings in Toretsk and that this is accelerating the Russian advance. Toretsk is located in Donetsk oblast, about 35 kilometers north of occupied Donetsk. In recent months, the town has become a hotspot in Donetsk Oblast as Russian troops have continued to advance in Ukraine’s eastern part. The town has become one of the hottest spots in Donetsk Oblast in recent months as Russian troops continue to advance in Ukraine’s east. Russian forces continue to push toward Kurakhove, a key logistic hub about 50 kilometers (30 miles), west of Toretsk. US lawmakers are pressuring Zelensky, according to a Presidential Office advisor. Serhii Leschenko, advisor to the Presidential Office, said that lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican Parties are pressing President Volodymyr Zelensky to lower the age for mandatory military conscription. Ukraine’s parliament passed an updated mobilization bill in mid-April. The law was adopted to increase mobilization due to Russia’s ongoing conflict. The new law simplifies identifying conscripts, and includes additional penalties to those who avoid the draft. Another law, signed just before the mobilization bill was passed, lowered minimum age for compulsory military service to 25 from 27. “(The Americans) are hinting that Western weapons alone aren’t enough, we need to mobilize from the age 18.” The unnamed U.S. legislators reportedly cited America’s experience in Vietnam War when men aged 18 to 26 were drafted. The deadline for updating data expired on July 17, 2024. From May 18 to July 16, 4,690,496 military-aged men updated their data by the deadline of July 17. The deadline for updating personal data expired on 17th July 2024. According to the Defense Ministry, from May 18 to July 16 4,690 496 military-aged males updated their data before the deadline of 17th July. The Air Force reported that four more drones had been “lost.” Russia also fired seven S300/400 missiles at Mykolaiv Oblast, and two Kh59 missiles at Chernihiv Oblast over night, the statement said. The attack damaged a restaurant, an industrial facility, shops, residential structures, and cars. Three people were injured in Shakhtarske, Donetsk oblast, according to Governor Vadym Fillashkin. In the region, two more people were injured in the villages Zakitne, Riznykivka. In Kherson Oblast Russian forces targeted 22 settlements including the regional centre of Kherson. OleksandrProkudin, the Governor, reported that four people were killed and six injured.
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