Ukrainian reports: North Koreans suffer high losses in Kursk

Ukrainian reports: North Koreans suffer high losses in Kursk

The Ukraine reported on Monday that North Korean soldiers Fight the side of Russian troops and suffered severe losses in the fights last weekend in the Russian region of Kursk.

losses and fighting

The North Korean units, which last month in kursk Defense intelligence service of Ukraine involved in attacks near three villages. Around 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded, and three others are missing in connection with fights in the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba and Martynovka near the border.

video recordings and allegations

A Ukrainian front drone team released a video on Sunday, which allegedly showed the bodies of more than 20 North Korean soldiers who were lined up in a icy field. However, the quality of the video was not sufficient to confirm their identity. Another drone video that was geolocalized by CNN near Plekhovo showed soldiers who apparently withdrawn at the weekend and removed some losses on sledges; However, it was unclear whether it was Russian or Korean soldiers.

tactics and strategies

A Ukrainian unit reported that Koreans - in other uniforms than the Russians - with the "same tactics as 70 years ago", apparently alluded to the Korean War, started infantry attacks in which waves were used by infantry.

participation of North Korean troops

Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj said that the North Korean troops stationed in Kursk were involved in fighting and that the fighting had led to losses. Since the beginning of December, North Korean troops have seemed a more outstanding role on the front line in Kursk, especially as infantry.

estimates and strategic location

The Ukraine estimates that around 12,000 North Korean soldiers are in the region to help Russian units in the recapture of parts of Kursk who were lost during a Ukrainian offensive in August. The fights for Plekhovo began at the beginning of the month when Russian units tried to push the Ukrainian armed forces four kilometers (2.5 miles) back to the border.

report on the fight

The Ukrainian military blogger Jurij Butusov wrote on Facebook that a big attack was repelled on Saturday. Butusov reported that the North Korean infantry of "massive fire support" was supported by the Russian units and electronic warfare against Ukrainian drones.

conclusion on the current situation

"Despite the losses, the enemy attack groups continued their push without even pushing under precision and shelling," said Butusov, adding: "The enemies managed to achieve the Ukrainian positions, thanks to their good physical fitness, quick movements and ignorance of their own losses; during the attack, there was no evacuation of the wounded and dead." He added that "our troops started several successful counterattacks to clean up the situation." While CNN cannot review his report on the fights independently, his descriptions with video evidence seem to be consistent and are consistent with official Ukrainian reports.

It remains unclear which side - if at all - now controls the village of Plekhovo.