Russia amasses 50 thousand troops to regain Kursk territory

Russia has amassed 50,000 troops, including soldiers from North Korea, who are preparing to launch an offensive aimed at regaining land seized by Ukraine in Russia's Kursk region

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The New York Times reports this with reference to American and Ukrainian officials.

It has been noted that the Ukrainian military has occupied large areas with little or no resistance. However, Russia is slowly regaining lost ground and now appears ready to launch a much larger operation.

According to U.S. officials, Russian forces have been actively shelling Ukrainian positions with missiles and artillery, but have not yet launched a large-scale offensive in the area.

North Korean soldiers are currently training alongside Russian troops in the westernmost part of Kursk. Ukrainian officials warn that a North Korean-led offensive could be launched in the coming days.

Ukrainian officials also reported that Moscow has supplied North Korean forces with machine guns, sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles, and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

U.S. officials state that Russia is training North Korean soldiers in artillery, basic infantry tactics, and, notably, trench clearance. This training suggests that some North Korean troops will likely be used in frontal assaults on Ukrainian defensive positions.

U.S. officials believe Ukrainian forces will be tough to dislodge and predict that Russian and North Korean troops will suffer heavy casualties, similar to the losses Russia has experienced in eastern Ukraine. U.S. and British military analysts estimate that more than 1,200 Russian soldiers are killed or wounded each day on average.

Nevertheless, if Russia gains momentum, it may not stop at its border but could push Ukrainian forces even further, according to the newspaper.

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense say it remains unclear whether the North Korean government will authorize its troops to carry out long-term operations in Ukraine or if their involvement is limited to a counteroffensive in the Kursk region.

Some U.S. officials believe North Korea may order its troops to halt at the border.

Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea

On October 4, the Kyiv Post reported that 20 soldiers were killed in a missile strike on occupied Donetsk, including six North Korean military personnel advising the Russian army.

The South Korean Defense Minister warned on October 8 that North Korea may deploy troops to Ukraine in support of Russia.

At an October 17 press conference in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed Russia's plan to train 10,000 North Korean soldiers for combat in Ukraine.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, later reported that 11,000 North Korean infantrymen are training in eastern Russia, preparing for deployment to Ukraine. He added that the first unit of 2,600 soldiers is en route to Kursk, where Ukraine has established a stronghold.

Ukraine has since shared intelligence with NATO about North Korea’s military involvement and requested data from alliance members.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the participation of the North Korean military in the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia would mean a “significant escalation.”

Later, it was reported that South Korea was considering providing Ukraine with military and intelligence assistance in response to North Korea's sending its military to fight on the side of Russia.

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reported that on October 23, the North Korean military was spotted in the Kursk region.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that according to intelligence, the first North Korean military would be used by Russia in combat zones on October 27-28.

On October 25, South Korea's intelligence agency announced that North Korea plans to send a second batch of its military personnel to Russia, totaling up to 10,000 people.

On October 28, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the presence of North Korea's military in Russia’s Kursk region, noting that this is “a major escalation in DPRK’s ongoing role in Russia’s illegal war.”

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia was already using DPRK military personnel on the territory of Ukraine and that up to 12,000 troops could be deployed to Russian training grounds from the DPRK.

On October 31, reports stated that North Korea had dispatched three of its generals to Russia, including the DPRK's deputy chief of general staff, who also serves as the head of the country's main intelligence bureau.

On the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that, according to recent reports, up to 8,000 DPRK troops had been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region.

On November 1, President Zelenskyy announced that the first thousand North Korean soldiers were already positioned near the Ukrainian border. Additionally, Ukraine's intelligence indicated that in the last week of October, Russia had relocated over 7,000 North Korean army soldiers from its territory to areas close to Ukraine.

Russia amasses 50,000 troops to regain Kursk territory - media

Russia has amassed 50,000 troops, including soldiers from North Korea, who are preparing to launch an offensive aimed at regaining land seized by Ukraine in Russia's Kursk region

Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea