Russia has amassed approximately 50,000 troops near Kursk for what appears to be an imminent offensive, according to American and Ukrainian officials cited by The New York Times. 

The operation aims to consolidate Russian control over the entire Kursk Oblast. Ukraine briefly gained roughly 1,000 square kilometers last August before losing half that territory to Russian counteroffensives.

North Korea has reportedly deployed over 10,000 soldiers to support Russian forces. The North Korean troops will operate independently while dressed in Russian uniforms and using Russian-supplied equipment. US officials report that Russia has trained these troops in artillery, infantry tactics, and trench warfare.

“That training suggests that at least some of the North Korean forces will be involved in frontal assaults on Ukraine’s dug-in defensive positions,” The New York Times notes. 

Operating as light infantry without armored vehicles, the North Koreans could face significant losses, especially given Ukraine’s effective use of artillery and drones against unprotected forces. 

Although North Korea has a large military, its troops have not engaged in ground combat in decades. However, the deployed soldiers are among North Korea’s elite, drawn from the 11th Corps, which includes special operations forces.

If successful, Russia may push beyond its border, aiming to drive Ukrainian forces back even further. While it remains unclear whether North Korea will authorize its troops for extended operations within Ukraine, some US officials suggest that Pyongyang might limit its forces’ involvement in the Kursk operation, allowing Russian troops to advance deeper into Ukraine.

Read more:

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• “We’ll help you with anything.” Russia’s gamble with North Korea sends message to China, warns former US diplomat
• North Korean arms transfers to Russia estimated over 500,000 artillery rounds in two months, OSINT group says
• North Korea’s secret arms shipment to Russia exposed by South Korean intel