Ukraine’s former military chief, Valery Zaluzhny, issued a stark warning, declaring that “World War III has begun.” Speaking at the UP100 awards ceremony in Kyiv, Zaluzhny emphasized that Ukraine is no longer fighting Russia alone but now faces a coalition of Vladimir Putin’s allies, including North Korea, Iran, and China.
Growing Support for Russia
Zaluzhny pointed to reports of North Korean troops aiding Russian forces, with around 10,000 soldiers reportedly deployed to the Kursk region. He also highlighted Tehran’s provision of Shahed drones and drone-building technology to Moscow. Since the war began, more than 8,000 of these Iranian-made drones have been used, targeting both Ukrainian military sites and civilian homes.
“Let’s be honest. Iranian Shahed drones are killing civilians openly and without shame,” he said, adding that Chinese and North Korean weaponry has also been identified on the battlefield.
Escalation on All Fronts
Zaluzhny’s remarks followed a missile strike in Dnipro, where Russia deployed its advanced Oreshnik missile, capable of traveling at 10 times the speed of sound and striking targets as far as 5,000 km (3,100 miles) away. This places most of Europe and even the U.S. West Coast within its range. Ukrainian air defenses were reportedly powerless to intercept the missile.
The situation escalated further after Ukraine used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to strike inside Russian territory earlier this week, with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reportedly greenlighting the attack. Moscow’s ambassador to the UK responded, declaring Britain “directly involved” in the war.
Zaluzhny’s Dire Call to Action
Zaluzhny urged Ukraine’s Western allies to increase military support, warning that failure to act could allow the conflict to spiral further. “It is still possible to stop it here, on the territory of Ukraine,” he said. “But for some reason, our partners do not want to understand this.”
Despite his removal as commander-in-chief in February, Zaluzhny remains a respected figure, credited with halting Russia’s 2022 invasion. However, disagreements with President Volodymyr Zelensky over strategy and resources reportedly led to his dismissal.
Global Fallout
The former general’s warning reflects the broader complexities of the war. With Putin aligning more closely with Iran, North Korea, and China, the conflict is taking on global dimensions. Western nations face mounting pressure to balance military support for Ukraine with the risk of escalating tensions with Russia and its allies.
The war’s toll is also becoming clearer. Russian sources reported that recent Ukrainian strikes killed 18 Russian and North Korean servicemen and injured dozens more. Meanwhile, Putin continues to use Ukraine as a testing ground for Russia’s most advanced weaponry, further destabilizing the region.
As the conflict intensifies, Zaluzhny’s assertion that World War III has already begun serves as a chilling reminder of the stakes at hand.