Ukraine announced on Monday that North Korean units fighting for Russia suffered losses of at least 30 soldiers killed or wounded in clashes around several villages in Russia’s Kursk region over the weekend.
The report from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency followed President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s recent statement that Russia has been deploying North Korean troops in significant numbers for the first time to conduct assaults in the Kursk region. This area has been a focal point since Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion there in August.
Kyiv’s statement marked the first detailed claim of North Korean casualties on this scale. According to Ukrainian sources, the losses occurred near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka. However, no evidence was provided to substantiate the figures, and the claims could not be independently verified.
The Kremlin declined to comment on the allegations, referring inquiries to the Russian Defense Ministry, which has remained silent on the matter. Russia has yet to confirm or deny the presence of North Korean forces on its front lines. Initially dismissing such reports as “fake news,” Pyongyang later suggested that any deployment would be lawful.
Ukraine’s intelligence agency reported that ongoing losses have forced Russia to replenish its assault units with fresh personnel, specifically from North Korea’s 94th Separate Brigade, to sustain combat operations in the Kursk region.
Kyiv first alleged the presence of North Korean forces in the region in October, later reporting clashes without specifying casualties. Ukraine estimates that around 11,000 North Korean soldiers are now involved, supplementing a large Russian force in the area.
While nearly a fifth of Ukraine remains under Russian control, Ukrainian troops have secured an enclave within the Kursk region. They continue to hold this position, which Kyiv views as a potential bargaining tool in future peace negotiations.
