Ukraine’s 80th Separate Galician Air Assault Brigade has struck a powerful blow against invading forces. Recent footage released by the brigade reveals the complete destruction of a Russian mechanised convoy near Oleshnya, in the Kursk border region, including the obliteration of a Russian Tiger armoured vehicle and three BMP infantry vehicles.
The 80th Brigade, now a core part of Ukraine’s newly established Eighth Air Assault Corps, continues to excel in modern warfare with unmatched precision. During the daring operation inside Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian troops disrupted enemy supply lines, dismantled communication posts, and even captured highly prized T90M tanks. These cutting-edge tanks were seized using American-supplied Stryker and M113 armoured vehicles.
The brigade’s innovative use of First-Person View (FPV) drones has enabled pinpoint strikes on Russian positions and allowed the interception of multiple reconnaissance drones. Their battlefield finesse has not only blunted conventional Russian and North Korean infantry assaults but has also enabled strategic advances into enemy territory, making them a symbol of Ukraine’s battlefield evolution and resilience.
The Kremlin, facing mounting casualties and battlefield losses, is turning to fellow pariah North Korea for help. Russian propaganda channels have recently begun promoting North Korean involvement in Ukraine. They show North Korean troops being trained to fight Ukrainian forces and talk of liberating Russia’s Kursk region from so-called neo-Nazis — a favourite and tired narrative of the Russian dictator.
Reports suggest North Korea could deploy troops to occupied Ukrainian territories. While initially such foreign involvement was hidden, the Kremlin now openly embraces this alliance with another globally isolated regime. The partnership offers North Korea opportunities to test military gear and gain real combat experience, while the Kremlin uses it to falsely project strength and unity in its spiralling war effort.
Both Russia and North Korea, isolated and increasingly desperate, see this alliance as mutually beneficial. While North Korea seeks relevance on the global stage, Russia faces international sanctions and a manpower crisis. This unholy alliance aims to provoke the West while solidifying ties among authoritarian states that stand against NATO, democracy, and the international rules-based order.
In Washington, concern is growing. While Ukraine is edging closer to finalising a new minerals agreement with the United States, some Republicans remain sceptical of past White House policies. Senator John Kennedy criticised both former Biden’s and President Trump’s approaches to Russia, describing Trump’s dealings with the Russian dictator as ineffective and marked by deception. Kennedy noted that Putin has broken every promise made to Trump, seized Ukrainian land, and still dares the world to challenge him.
Amid oil related sanctions, Kennedy argued that the West must completely choke off Russia’s oil revenue — a third of its national income — to halt its war machine. The current cap of 47 pounds (60 dollars) per barrel, he claims, is not enough. Without stronger Western resolve and united action, he warns, Ukraine will remain vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to demonstrate superior battlefield capabilities. A new wave of anti-tank mines produced in 2025 is already being deployed. These advanced explosives resemble the Soviet TM62 mines but come with electromechanical fuses and improved design, making them harder to disarm. Their powerful charges, up to 7.2 kilograms of explosive, could help Ukraine continue repelling Russian and now potentially North Korean aggression.
