Australia increases its support for Ukraine in the ongoing war –  raising its total contribution to more than $1.3billion

Ukraine will be given 14 rigid hull boats to bolster its maritime defences against Russia’s invasion.

The inflatable boats are worth $14 million and come just after Australia donated 49 Abrams tanks as part of a $250 million aid package.

‘Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to thwart Russia’s continued attacks from the Black Sea,’ Defence Minister Richard Marles said.

‘We are proud to contribute to these vital maritime defences with this new package.’

The boats would be useful on the front lines including in areas like Kherson, which was liberated in November 2022 but where Russian forces remain on the other side of the river, Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko said.

‘These are very good, they’re very fast, rigid – I tested them in Tasmania and they can do some magic in terms of manoeuvrability and speed,’ he told AAP.

Inflatable boats have previously been given to Ukraine as part of a $100 million package announced in April.

Australia has contributed more than $1.3 billion in military support in total, including 120 Bushmaster protected infantry vehicles, artillery and ammunition.

Ukraine has requested Tiger helicopters that are set to be retired by Australia.

The Australian Defence Force previously dismantled its faulty Taipan fleet and buried the parts in an undisclosed military location, despite Kyiv asking for the choppers.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the defence force was working through the Tiger’s disposal plan and the federal government was in contact with Ukraine about continuing support.

Thousands of North Korean troops are being prepared to fight on Russia’s behalf in Ukraine and some North Korean officers have already been deployed there, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says.

The United States and other allies of Ukraine have long accused North Korea of sending weapons to Russia, and in recent days Zelenskiy has said North Korean personnel are being sent as well.

‘We have information from our intelligence that … some officers of the North Korean army are already on Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian enemies. So they joined the Russian army,’ Zelenskiy told a news conference in Brussels.

He said he could not give the exact number that were already on the ground.

Smoke rises in the sky over Kyiv (pictured) after a Russian drone strike on November 3

The North Korean troops being prepared to fight in Ukraine include land forces and ‘other technical personnel’, Zelenskiy claimed.

Ukraine’s allies have yet to back the Ukrainian assertion that North Korea is sending troops although they say they are studying it.

White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said on Tuesday any North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine, if true, would mark a significant increase in the North Korea-Russia defence relationship.

Zelenskiy said Russia needs to fill the gap in mobilisation and cover its own personnel losses.

Ukraine and its allies say hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded fighting in Ukraine while Ukraine’s own military losses – a closely guarded secret – are also high but smaller. 

Russian forces have advanced over the past several months in Ukraine’s east.

Ukraine has called on allies to respond firmly to North Korean aid for Russia, including by imposing new sanctions and further isolating North Korea.