At the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there were reports stating the the Kremlin was convinced that Kyiv would fall under their control in as little as 72 hours – no doubt a bold prediction, but one that decades’ worth of Russian propaganda had prepared us for.
The world at large was truly terrified of Putin’s regime, and there was, at one point, a very real sense that Russia was a military superpower.
All of that belief has evaporated, however, as Moscow has repeatedly been forced to reach out to other authoritarian states for assistance in toppling the much smaller nation of Ukraine.
Now, as the Russian military continue to falter, Putin has been forced to reach out to some rather questionable leaders for assistance.
The Russian Ministry of Defense is in the process of purchasing millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea for its ongoing fight in Ukraine, according to a newly downgraded U.S. intelligence finding.
A U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the intelligence determination, said Monday that the fact Russia is turning to the isolated state of North Korea demonstrates that “the Russian military continues to suffer from severe supply shortages in Ukraine, due in part to export controls and sanctions.”
And the relationship may continue further.
U.S. intelligence officials believe that the Russians could look to purchase additional North Korean military equipment in the future. The intelligence finding was first reported by The New York Times.
The U.S. official did not detail how much weaponry Russia intends to purchase from North Korea.
The sad state of affairs of the Russian military has been readily apparent for some time, but turning to the despotic DPRK is a new low…even for Vlad Putin.
