North Korean troops suffer heavy losses in fighting in Kursk, says Ukraine
- 16 December, 10:23
Ukrainian intelligence has reported that North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s border Kursk region suffered heavy losses during the fighting over the weekend. In a statement published on Monday, December 16, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, known as HUR, claimed that at least 30
North Korean troops were killed during the assault on Ukrainian troops in the areas of the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka in Kursk on December 14 and December 15. In addition, at least three North Korean troops fighting alongside Russians went missing during the hostilities on weekend.
“Due to these losses, it was necessary to reinforce assault groups with fresh personnel from the 94th Separate Brigade of the North Korean army to sustain combat operations in the Kursk region,” the intelligence agency added.
Ukrainian servicemen on Sunday released a drone video of what they claimed to be of North Korean soldiers killed in Kursk region. The video footage showed a pile of bodies said to be of North Korean soldiers.
Russia started deploying North Korean troops in its Kursk region in October following Ukraine’s large-scale incursion in the region in early August. According to Pentagon, 10,000 Pyongyang soldiers have already been stationed in the border region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has suggested that the use of North Korean troops could extend to other parts of the front line.
It should be noted that North Korea and Russia have boosted their military ties since full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
