Russians with alleged ties to the Wagner mercenary group met with North Korean officials to secure weapons transfers, according to a United Nations (UN) report.
An unnamed UN member state claimed Pavel Pavlovich Shevelin negotiated with North Korean officials - including Rim Yong Hyok, described as a mining representative - in Damascus, the capital of Russia's ally Syria, according to the UN's March 7 report. The member state also claimed the meeting took place in 2022 and had remained active as of October last year.
Shevelin was sanctioned by the US government last year for allegedly operating, or having been operating, in the defence sector of the Russian economy. Valeriy Chekalov, another Russian national, was also named in the report in connection with the deal.
"Mr. Shevelin and Mr. Chekalov were known to have been affiliated with the Wagner Group," according to the report seen by The Mirror.
Wagner mercenaries played a huge role during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (EAST2WEST NEWS)When confronted about the claims, Russian officials requested the UN Panel of Experts provide more detailed information on the basis that 'such information is required to conduct a thorough investigation, clarify all the circumstances, identify suspects, and organize a trial if sufficient grounds are identified.'"
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The UN said in the same report that Syrian officials have not replied regarding the allegations and the panel is continuing its investigation.
Chris Monday, a Russian economy expert at Dongseo University told NK News the Wagner Group likely needed to use Syria as a base to make a deal with North Korea as Russia was keen to "keep things as murky as possible."
"The Russians want to maintain connections with Hamas, ISIS and Iranian proxies without raising too many alarms," he told the publication.
The UN said in its report Hamas militants "may have utilised weapons of Democratic People's Republic of Korea origin." North Korea has branded the claims as "groundless and a false rumour," according to the report.
A photo of Wagner mercenaries in Ukraine. The UN report said Russians with ties to the Wagner Group met with North Korean officials (EAST2WEST NEWS)Earlier this month, South Korea defence minister Shin Won-sik claimed North Korea shipped some 7,000 containers filled with military equipment to Russia.
Both South Korea and the US accused the rogue state of supplying Russia with artillery shells, missiles and other military equipment. It is believed North Korea made the exchange for food, economic aid and military assistance.
The Wagner Group, a Russian state-funded private military organisation, established itself during conflicts involving Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine and Kyiv in 2014. It was involved in further military operations during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2021.
Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62, launched a botched rebellion in June last year after he hit out at the Kremlin and military chiefs over what he viewed was their poor handling of the war.
Prigozhin brought his coup to an end after reaching an agreement with the Kremlin that they would not face prosecution. In August Prigozhin died in a plane crash in Russia and it has been alleged the Kremlin was behind the explosion that happened onboard.
The Mirror has contacted the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation for comment.
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