On Jan. 22, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces announced they had repelled a North Korean ground assault in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, killing 21 and wounding 40 soldiers during an eight-hour battle before retreating.
According to the statement, the 8th Regiment faced a large group of North Korean troops deployed by Russia to counter Ukraine’s cross-border incursions into the region. Graphic combat footage released by the Ukrainian unit shows North Korean forces advancing through open fields and forests, culminating in close-quarters combat just meters apart.
“At the ninth hour of the battle, the Special Operations Forces had only a third of their ammunition left. They spent the rest on destroying (North Korean forces),” the unit stated via Telegram. The Ukrainian soldiers ultimately withdrew from the area in two Humvees after using small arms, grenade launchers, and sniper fire to repel the attack.
North Korea has reportedly stationed around 12,000 troops in Kursk Oblast since Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russian territory in August 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously claimed that North Korean forces have suffered 4,000 casualties, including killed and wounded, during their involvement in the conflict.
This escalation highlights Russia’s growing reliance on its North Korean allies to bolster manpower amid ongoing fighting.
Source : https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-53/