Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that North Korean troops have returned to the battlefield in Russia’s western Kursk region, despite earlier reports that they had been withdrawn due to significant casualties. In a video address on Friday, Zelensky stated that Russian forces had redeployed North Korean soldiers who were now engaged in fresh assaults. He also claimed that hundreds of Russian and North Korean military personnel had been eliminated.
Western intelligence sources previously reported that at least 1,000 of the estimated 11,000 North Korean troops deployed in recent months had been killed. South Korean intelligence assessments suggest that these soldiers struggle with modern warfare and are highly vulnerable to Ukrainian drone attacks. Military experts believe that if North Korean losses continue at this rate, the deployment may become unsustainable.
The presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine follows deepening ties between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Their recent security and defense agreement has led to increased military cooperation, with Pyongyang supplying Moscow with ammunition, weapons, and manpower to compensate for Russian battlefield losses.
Zelensky also announced that Ukrainian forces had launched a new offensive in Kursk on Thursday, advancing 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles). This comes after Ukraine’s initial lightning offensive six months ago, which saw them capture over 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of Russian territory. However, Russian troops have since reclaimed significant portions of the region. The Russian military, meanwhile, claimed to have repelled Ukraine’s latest attacks. These battlefield reports from both sides remain unverified.
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched by Russia in February 2022, has led to substantial losses. While Moscow has not updated its official casualty figures since September 2022, Zelensky claimed this week that up to 350,000 Russian soldiers have been killed. Other estimates suggest this number could be even higher. On Ukraine’s side, Zelensky reported 45,100 military casualties. However, military analysts believe the true figure is likely higher.
Russia’s military claimed to have captured the town of Toretsk in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, though Ukrainian forces insist that fighting continues in the area. Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he expects to meet President Zelensky next week and may also speak with President Putin, saying he would like to see the war come to an end.
As the conflict intensifies, the return of North Korean troops to the battlefield underscores Moscow’s reliance on foreign military support, further escalating tensions on the front lines.