Ukraine Launches Offensive in Russia's Kursk Region as North Korean Troops Reportedly Join Battle

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed a new Ukrainian offensive in Russia’s Kursk region and alleged that North Korean soldiers are fighting alongside Russian forces.

“In the Kursk operation, new attacks have been launched,” Zelenskyy stated in his address on Friday, asserting that Russia has once again stationed North Korean troops alongside its own forces.

He claimed that Ukrainian forces had inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, estimating casualties in the hundreds, though he did not disclose specific details.

On Saturday, Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that it had successfully fended off a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kursk region.

Additionally, Russia announced on Friday that its forces had seized the mining town of Toretsk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, an area where Ukrainian defenses are struggling. However, Ukrainian officials have not confirmed this claim.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s military suggested last month that North Korea might be preparing to send more troops to Russia after suffering significant losses. North Korea has already supplied Russia with substantial amounts of artillery and other conventional weapons. Furthermore, according to intelligence from the U.S., South Korea, and Ukraine, around 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russia in October.