Russia and Ukraine exchange drone strikes as North Korea’s top diplomat visits Moscow

Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia and Ukraine exchanged dozens of drone attacks on Wednesday North Korea’s top diplomat arrived in Russia for talks after his country reportedly sent thousands of troops to aid Moscow in its war effort.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 62 drones and one missile overnight, adding that 33 of them were intercepted and 25 were blocked.

According to city authorities, drones struck an apartment building and a kindergarten in Kiev, injuring nine people, including a child. “Russian drones did not change their regular tactics – they approached the capital from different sides, at different heights,” it was written.

Authorities said Russian attacks also targeted other regions of Ukraine, killing at least four people and wounding about 30 others in the past 24 hours.

At the same time, Russian forces continued their slow offensive in eastern Ukraine. In Moscow, the Ministry of Defense announced the seizure of the village of Kruhlyakivka in the Kharkiv Oblast.

The ministry said air defense shot down 25 Ukrainian drones in several regions in the west and southwest of the country.

The new attacks come after North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui arrived in Moscow for talks that South Korea’s spy agency said could include discussions on sending additional troops to Russia and what the North will receive in return.

– announced the Pentagon North Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to Russia, who will likely fight against Ukraine “in the next few weeks.”

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Tuesday that a “relatively small number” of North Korean troops are currently in the Kursk region, where Russia fought to repel the Ukrainian invasion.

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