The North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Vladimir Putin’s military have shown ferocious commitment, brutality — and a determination to kill themselves rather than face capture, The Independent has been told.

Russia’s military on Tuesday said it would retaliate against Ukraine after Kyiv attacked Russian regions by firing six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles, six UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles and launching one of the biggest drone attacks to date.

Russia says it shot down more than 120 drones overnight, in what would be one of the largest attacks of the war.

Videos showed fireballs over a facility in Ryazan, 110 miles southeast of Moscow. Kyiv is seeking to disrupt Russian military logistics and put pressure on the country’s economy by striking its oil industry.

On the night of January 25, 2025 (from 19:00 on January 24), the Russians attacked Ukraine with two Kh-59/69 guided air missiles from the airspace of the Black Sea and 61 Shahed-type strike UAVs and various types of drone imitators from the directions of Orel,

Ukraine drones hit an oil refinery east of Moscow in a mass attack on Russia, according to military sources. The oil plant in Ryazan, 120 miles south east of the capital, was targeted, as was a microelectronics production plant in Bryansk, western Russia, according to Ukraine’s military.

Kyiv says it struck a Russian oil refinery and a microchip factory in attack which Moscow says contained 120 drones

The North Korean troops fighting for Russia are highly trained and will stop at nothing to avoid surrender, Ukrainian sources tell Sam Kiley, The Independent’s World Affairs Editor, in Sumy

The Security Service of Ukraine and the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted a joint operation on the night of January 24, 2025, striking objects involved in providing support to the Russian occupation army.

Comes as South Korea’s military says North Korea is preparing to send more troops to join Russia’s war in Ukraine

Ukraine also sends volley of drones into Russia, with air defences intercepting attacks on 13 regions, including Moscow.