North Korean troops suffer heavy losses in Kursk region, Ukraine confirms

The Security Service shared the information.

“The Ukrainian Defense Forces are dealing significant losses to Russian and North Korean units in the Kursk region. In just a few days, over 200 injured North Korean servicemen were transferred to a Russian hospital near Moscow,” the post states.

Law enforcement officers also reviewed an intercepted conversation between a nurse at a Moscow-region hospital and her military husband, who is fighting against Ukraine in the Kharkiv region. In the exchange, she says: “Yesterday, the train carried about 100 people. Today, another 120—that makes 200. And how many more are there? Only God knows.”

In a subsequent conversation, a Russian nurse revealed that the hospital wards are being allocated to North Korean fighters, while injured Russians are treated in worse conditions: "Are they elite or something, these Koreans? We're clearing out certain wards for them."

Law enforcement officials noted that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has already opened a criminal case regarding the participation of North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine. Pre-trial investigations are being conducted under Article 437 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea

North Korean army units, which Russia involved in the war against Ukraine, were put on alert on December 13, according to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence. The Directorate reported that the North Korean units were instructed to cooperate with adjacent Russian units involved in combat operations in Kursk. Additionally, North Korean soldiers recently received additional food supplies, some of which were covertly moved to the front line in civilian trucks resembling water delivery vehicles.

On December 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly acknowledged the participation of North Korean troops in offensive actions against Ukrainian positions in Kursk, leading to significant losses on their part.

On the same day, Ukraine’s military intelligence reported the first losses of North Korean troops - 200 casualties. Additionally, according to Ukrainian sources, soldiers loyal to Kim Jong-un mistakenly killed 8 Chechen fighters.

According to intelligence reports, after the losses in the battles in Kursk, North Korean army units are being replenished with fresh personnel to continue their active combat operations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned "many details" about the losses of North Korean troops on the front lines in the Kursk region.

The official Pentagon spokesperson, Major General Patrick Ryder, confirmed the deaths of North Korean troops in battles in the Kursk region of Russia.

Specifically, on December 17, the 8th Special Operations Forces Regiment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed at least 50 North Korean fighters in the Kursk region over three days.

According to Associated Press, citing a high-ranking military official, North Korean troops fighting against Ukraine in the Kursk region of Russia have already suffered hundreds of casualties, both killed and wounded.