North Korean forces deployed to Kursk have reportedly suffered heavy casualties and are facing severe supply shortages.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday that Ukrainian forces successfully struck North Korean units near Novoyvanivka in Russia’s western Kursk region, inflicting significant damage. Intelligence officials stated that as a result of these attacks, North Korean troops on the front lines are now grappling with critical supply issues, including a shortage of potable water.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously announced on Monday that North Korean casualties in the Kursk region had already exceeded 3,000, including both killed and wounded.
Estimates suggest North Korea deployed between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to support Russian operations in the Kursk area. If Zelenskyy’s figures are accurate, this would mean that at least a quarter of the North Korean contingent has been rendered combat ineffective.
In August, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise offensive across the border into Kursk, temporarily seizing over 1,000 square kilometers of territory. While Russia has since mounted counterattacks and reclaimed some ground, it has not fully restored its previous positions. Moscow continues to conduct airstrikes targeting Ukraine’s power infrastructure and other critical assets.
Most Commented