Key developments for October 21:
The US announces $400 Million in Defense Aid for Ukraine
Source: Russia detains 18 North Koreans who left positions in Kursk Oblast
* Kremlin calls North Korean troop reports contradictory but does not deny them
National Guard: Russia is attacking a town near Pokrovsk
* Ukraine destroys Russian Buk air defense system, military says
Ukrinform reported that U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced a $400 million military assistance package to Ukraine during his visit to Kyiv, on October 21.
In a press release issued later that day, the Pentagon stated that the recent package included HIMARS systems for air defense, tube-launched optically tracked and wire-guided missiles (TOW), M113 armored personal carriers, Javelin anti-armor and AT-4 systems, as well as ammunition for high mobility artillery.
Washington also promised to provide Kyiv 155 mm and 10 mm artillery rounds, as well 60 mm 81 mm and 120 mm mortars and rounds, as other weapons and training gear.
The Pentagon chief made a surprise trip to Kyiv to discuss the future support for Ukraine in light of the upcoming uncertain U.S. Presidential election.
There are fears that, if Republican nominee Donald Trump, the ex-President, beats his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris he may withdraw or scale back U.S. assistance for Ukraine, forcing Ukraine to make painful concessions.
Since the outbreak of a full-scale conflict in Ukraine in 2022, Washington has allocated around $175 billion to Ukraine in aid. This includes roughly $70 billion in arms and military equipment.
Despite U.S. backing, Russian forces continue to advance in the east of the country while Ukraine prepares for new attacks against the energy grid as winter approaches.
Source: Russia detains 18 North Koreans who left positions in Kursk Oblast
A military intelligence source told Kyiv Independent that Russian authorities had detained 18 North Koreans who had abandoned their positions in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
Kyiv reported that Pyongyang, a close ally of Moscow, is preparing to send around 11,000 soldiers early next month to help Russia in its war against Ukraine. Some had already arrived, it added.
Suspilne reported earlier on Oct. 15 citing unnamed officials of intelligence, that 18 North Korean soldiers deserted their posts in Russian regions near to the Ukrainian border.
Hromadske reported, citing an intelligence source from the military, that 40 North Korean soldiers were in Russia to exchange knowledge with their Russian counterparts.
After the training, 18 North Korean soldiers who were detained in Kursk Oblast had been left in the forest without food or instructions for several days. This led them to abandon their post and find the Russian command in October 14.
Hromadske reported that two days later, Russian authorities found and detained the missing soldiers, roughly 60 kilometers (almost forty miles) away from their original location.
South Korea confirmed that North Korean military personnel had been transferred to Russia. It called it a “grave threat to security.” U.S. Select Committee on Intelligence Chair Michael R. Turner stated that such a move must be a “redline” for the United States.
A video that appeared online on October 18 purportedly shows North Korean soldiers receiving equipment in a Russian military base and preparing to deploy against Ukraine.
Russia and North Korea have intensified their cooperation during the full-scale conflict, with Moscow receiving large packages of artillery and ballistic missiles.
Kremlin calls North Korean troop reports contradictory but does not deny them
The Kremlin spokesperson called recent reports of the dispatch of North Korean soldiers to help Russia’s war in Ukraine “contradictory”, but did neither confirm nor deny these claims.
Interfax, the state-controlled media agency, reported that Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian government and media said: “We see a great deal of contradictory data.”
“The South Koreans claim one thing and the Pentagon claims that they do not have confirmation. There are many contradictory statements.” This is probably the best way to approach it.”
The U.S. has not confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia and Ukraine, but a senior U.S. legislator said that such a move would be crossing a “redline” and require immediate action.
Peskov stated that “North Korea is our neighbor and partner and we are developing relationships in many spheres which is our sovereign rights.” He also claimed that this cooperation was “not directed at third countries.”
The spokesperson said that questions about the conduct of war should be directed to the Defense Ministry. The recent remarks represent a change in rhetoric from earlier in the month, when Peskov dismissed the reports outright as “fake-news.”
National Guard: Russia is attacking a town near Pokrovsk
Ukraine’s National Guard reported on October 21 that Russian forces are using a large number of infantry to attempt to storm the Selydove Sector in Donetsk Oblast.
Selydove is located 18 km south of Pokrovsk (11 miles), which has been the focal point of Russia’s offensive in the Donetsk front line sector in recent months.
According to the National Guard of Russia, Russian troops regularly conduct mechanized attacks near Selydove. These assaults involve three to five armored vehicle.
The statement said that Ukrainian troops have repelled 17 Russian attacks in the Pokrovsk area over the last day.
The news was released amid Russian propaganda claiming that Ukrainian and Russian soldiers were fighting street-to–street battles in the suburbs of Selydove.
The Ukrainian military refused to comment when asked by Kyiv Independent what the situation was in the area.
Ukraine has had a difficult time defending its front line throughout 2024, especially in Donetsk Oblast where Russia has consistently focused its offensive potential.
After Ukraine’s withdrawal from Vuhledar at the beginning of October, Russian forces have focused their efforts on the Donetsk Oblast cities of Pokrovsk Toretsk and Kurakhove where outnumbered and under-equipped Ukrainian soldiers are losing ground slowly under Russian pressure.
Ukraine destroys Russian Buk air defense system, military says
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces announced that Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Buk M3 air defense system over night on October 21.
According to reports, the operation was carried out by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces along with other military units.
The Buk-M3 represents the latest version of the Buk family of Soviet-era systems. It is a medium range system that can intercept aerial threats, including tactical missiles at a distance of up to 65 km (40 miles).
General Staff reported that the Russian anti-aircraft systems was located about 60 kilometers from front line. The General Staff estimated that such equipment would cost between $40-50 million.
The statement did no specify the exact location of targeted system.
In its morning report of October 21, the General Staff stated that Ukrainian forces destroyed 979 Russian antiaircraft systems during the full-scale conflict.
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