Ukraine Faces Devastating Losses as Russian Troops, North Korean Soldiers Move on Kursk

The situation in Russia’s Kursk region, where North Korean troops have been deployed, is rapidly deteriorating for Ukraine. While Ukraine claims significant North Korean casualties, reports suggest heavy losses among Ukrainian forces as well. Russian troops are mounting an all-out offensive to reclaim the area.

Bloomberg News reported on the situation in Kursk, citing U.S. officials on Saturday. According to the report, Ukraine has lost half of its occupied territory in Kursk and could lose the remainder within months.

Russia may launch a full-scale offensive in Kursk as early as next month. The Ukrainian forces risk an ambush if they do not withdraw by spring.

Kursk, which Ukraine captured in a surprise offensive last August, was seen as a valuable bargaining chip for future peace talks with Russia.

Russia has deployed over 50,000 troops to the region in an aggressive push to recapture it. The 11,000 North Korean soldiers sent to support Russian forces have also been committed to the Kursk front.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported last week that more than 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed or wounded.

Thousands of Ukrainian troops have reportedly been killed or wounded in the fighting as well as Russia’s counteroffensive gains momentum.

Some question the strategic value of holding Kursk, as the Ukrainian forces are fatigued and morale is declining. They also worry that it could weaken Ukraine’s position on other fronts.

Defending Kursk, which covers more than 380 square miles (more than 1.5 times the area of Seoul), while simultaneously trying to resist Russian advances elsewhere, is stretching Ukrainian manpower to its limits.

The potential for additional North Korean troop deployments could be a game-changer, especially with Ukrainian forces on the defensive.

A U.S. official suggested that if Russia launches a large-scale counteroffensive, North Korea might deploy an additional 8,000 troops by next spring. The same official cautioned that the reliability of this information is low.