The chief of the general staff of Ukraine’s national defense, General Oleksandr Syrsky, said on Saturday that Kiev was facing increasing difficulties in the war against the Russian invaders as Russian forces advanced on the eastern front and North Korean troops were poised to join the Kremlin’s campaign. .

Referring to his communication with US General Christopher Cavoli, head of the US European Command (EUCOM), Sirsky pointed out that Ukrainian forces – who have a numerical disadvantage against the invaders – are accepting attacks in areas of strategic importance, more than two and a half years after the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message that the Ukrainian military has concentrated its efforts on the defense line around the city of Kurakhove – which is targeted by Russian forces along with Pokrovsk, a strategic hub further north. Zelensky denounced the strikes on civilian targets and called on European allies to bolster Ukraine with more air defense systems.

In a Facebook post, Sirski wrote that he told US General Cavoli that the situation on the battlefronts remains difficult and shows “signs of escalation”. “The enemy, taking advantage of its numerical advantage, continues its attacks and concentrates its efforts on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhevo regions,” said the chief of the general staff of the national defense of Ukraine.

Russian forces are seeking to bring the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk under their full control, capturing one community after another as they advance towards Pokrovsk.

The general staff of Ukraine’s national defense reported on Saturday night that about 40 battles had taken place in the previous hours on the outskirts of Kurakhevo as Russian forces tightened the cordon around the city.

All this, amid reports in the West that North Korea has sent troops to ally Russia. “We have many reports that North Korean soldiers are preparing to participate in combat operations alongside Russian forces,” General Alexander Sirsky said on Saturday.

Ukraine’s president has said that around 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed in Russia, specifically in the Kursk region (south) where Ukrainian forces made a surprise incursion last August. Both Zelensky and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov claimed that North Korean forces had recently engaged in fighting with Ukrainian troops.

The US is Ukraine’s biggest arms supplier, but Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election has raised doubts about the continuation of US military aid.

Volodymyr Zelensky was one of the first leaders to congratulate Donald Trump after his victory in the November 5 US election. The Ukrainian president described his telephone conversation with Trump as “wonderful” and added that their contacts will continue.