Over 500 North Korean soldiers and a top Russian general are believed to have been killed by a British Storm Shadow missile fired into Russia earlier this week.
The strike, launched by Ukraine on November 20, killed Russian general Valery Solodchuk and also resulted in the deaths of 18 additional Kremlin officers, with a further 18 reported wounded.
A senior North Korean general is also believed to have been wounded in the missile attack on an underground military facility in Maryino, Kursk, which was being used as a command centre for Kim Jong Un’s forces after they were deployed to assist Putin in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian missile strike was the first time UK Storm Shadow missiles had been used to attack targets deep inside Russia.
Russian authorities have not yet confirmed the losses, which would be significant to both Russia and North Korea if confirmed, and the reports are yet to be independently verified.
The losses, if true, may explain Putin’s furious reaction over the past week, which has seen him launch an ICBM and a new Oreshnik hypersonic missile at Dnipro, along with more threats of nuclear escalation.
According to a new nuclear doctrine signed by Putin in recent weeks, a large-scale missile attack on Russia with conventional weapons would be considered sufficient grounds to respond with nuclear weapons.
The update was first proposed in September and rubber stamped on Tuesday, the 1,000th day of the war with Ukraine.
US-based Global Defense Corp reported that 500 North Korean soldiers were killed alongside Russian officers, however, there was no independent confirmation.
Around 10,000-plus North Koreans are believed to have been moved across Siberia to the war zone after being ordered to serve Putin by their leader Kim Jong Un.
They are either currently fighting for Putin or about to be deployed.
The Russian officers reportedly killed are from Putin’s Southern and Eastern Military Districts.
Britain’s Storm Shadow missiles are capable of dodging air defences – making them a nightmare attack weapon for their enemy.
The Storm Shadow missile attack last week hit the sanatorium of the Russian Presidential Affairs Directorate in Maryino, a former Tsarist estate, say reports.
British Storm Shadow missiles have a range of up to 180miles, meaning Ukraine could now have the ability to strike targets deep inside Russian borders.
The troops killed in the attack were believed to have been deployed to retake Kursk, which was captured by Ukrainian forces over the summer in an attempt to strengthen their hand in any future ceasefire negotiations.
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