At least 30 North Korean soldiers have reportedly been killed or wounded in clashes with Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine has been making territorial gains.
According to reports from Ukraine’s military intelligence, the heavy casualties occurred on December 14 and 15 near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka. The North Korean troops, deployed by Russia to support its military efforts in the western region, suffered significant losses during these engagements.
“On December 14 and 15, units from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) suffered substantial losses near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka in Russia’s Kursk region. At least 30 soldiers were killed or wounded,” the report stated.
North Korean soldiers have been deployed in large numbers to assist Russian forces, particularly in the Kursk region, where Moscow is attempting to regain control after a surprising Ukrainian offensive earlier this year. Ukraine’s military intelligence indicated that these units are being replenished with fresh personnel from North Korea. Western officials estimate that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to bolster Russia’s efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the situation, confirming that Russia has started integrating “a noticeable number” of North Korean soldiers into combined units. These units are being used in operations to push Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region.
“The Russians are incorporating North Koreans into their combined units for operations in the Kursk region,” Zelensky said. He also suggested that North Korean soldiers could be deployed to other parts of the front line, adding, “Losses among this group are already significant.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry recently claimed it had recaptured some small settlements in the Kursk region. However, a Ukrainian army source revealed last month that Kyiv currently controls 800 square kilometres of the area, a reduction from its earlier claims of 1,400 square kilometres.
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Chronicles Reporters