Ukraine’s military reported on Monday that at least 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or injured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region, where Kyiv has regained territory. Thousands of North Korean troops have been sent to bolster Russian forces, particularly in the Kursk border area, which has seen intense fighting since a Ukrainian counteroffensive this summer.
According to Ukraine’s military intelligence, the losses occurred on December 14 and 15 near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka in the Kursk region. “Army units from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) suffered significant casualties, with at least 30 soldiers killed or wounded,” a statement said.
North Korea has reportedly deployed up to 10,000 soldiers to aid Russia’s military efforts. These reinforcements are part of a broader effort to reclaim ground after Ukraine’s surprise offensive earlier this year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Russia is increasingly relying on North Korean troops in combined units, using them in operations throughout the Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an incursion in August. Zelenskyy also indicated that North Korean forces may be deployed to other parts of the front line, with casualties already mounting.
Russia’s defense ministry stated last week that its troops had retaken several small settlements in the Kursk area, but Ukrainian sources reported that Kyiv still controls 800 square kilometers of territory, down from an earlier claim of 1,400 square kilometers.
Russia and North Korea have strengthened military cooperation since the invasion, with Moscow continuing to integrate North Korean forces into its operations.