Ukraine reports heavy North Korean casualties in the Kursk region

Ukraine reports heavy North Korean casualties in the Kursk region

Ukraine reported on Monday that North Korean soldiers, fighting alongside Russian troops, suffered heavy casualties in Russia's Kursk region over the weekend.

Losses of North Korean troops

North Korean units deployed last month in Kursk who arrived were involved in attacks near three villages, according to Ukrainian military intelligence. The report said about 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded in the fighting and three were reported missing during clashes near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba and Martynovka near the border.

Combat and drone footage

A Ukrainian reconnaissance team released a video on Sunday purporting to show the bodies of over 20 North Korean soldiers lined up in an icy field. However, the quality of the video was too poor to confirm her identity. Additionally, another drone video geolocated by CNN near Plekhovo shows soldiers apparently retreating and dragging some wounded people onto sleds over the weekend. However, it is unclear whether these are Russian or Korean soldiers.

Tactics of North Korean soldiers

A Ukrainian unit reported that the North Korean soldiers - wearing different uniforms than the Russians - launched infantry attacks using "the same tactics as 70 years ago," a reference to the Korean War in which mass units were used. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last month that North Korean troops sent to Kursk were actively involved in the fighting and there were casualties.

The role of North Korean troops in the conflict

Since early December, North Korean forces appear to be playing a more significant role on the front line in Kursk, particularly as infantry. Ukraine estimates that about 12,000 North Korean troops are in the region to help Russian units retake areas in Kursk captured during a Ukrainian offensive in August.

Fighting for the villages around Plekhovo

Fighting around Plekhovo began earlier this month when Russian units tried to push Ukrainian forces back toward the border, about four kilometers away. A Ukrainian military blogger, Yuriy Butusov, reported on Facebook that a major attack was repelled on Saturday. Butusov explained that the North Korean infantry was supported by “massive fire support” from Russian units as well as electronic warfare against Ukrainian drones.

Report on the attacks and the situation on site

“Despite the losses, the enemy attack groups continued their advance without stopping even under precise shelling and artillery fire,” Butusov said. "The enemy was able to reach the Ukrainian positions thanks to their good physical condition, quick movement and ignorance of their own losses; there was no evacuation of wounded and dead during the attack," he added, emphasizing that "our troops made several successful counterattacks to save the situation."

CNN cannot verify Butusov's account of the battle, but the statements appear to match video evidence and are consistent with official Ukrainian reports. It is unclear which side - if any - now controls the village of Plekhovo.