KYIV, Ukraine — According to a Ukrainian official, North Korean troops recently deployed to assist Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine have been targeted by Ukrainian artillery. This marks the first acknowledgment from Ukrainian sources regarding strikes on Pyongyang’s military units, adding a new dimension to the war as it nears the 1,000-day mark.
Andrii Kovalenko, who leads the counter-disinformation branch of Ukraine’s Security Council, shared on Telegram that the North Korean units have encountered shelling in the Kursk region. However, further specifics about the incidents were not disclosed.
There has been considerable speculation among Western nations that the North Korean forces would be sent to bolster Russia’s position near the Kursk border. This area has seen a three-month-long incursion by Ukrainian forces, marking the first significant occupation of Russian territory since World War II, which has drawn attention to the Kremlin’s vulnerabilities.
Intelligence reports from the United States, South Korea, and Ukraine suggest that as many as 12,000 North Korean combat troops are being dispatched to support the war under an agreement between the two nations. The effectiveness and combat experience of these troops remain uncertain, and their presence adds to the growing challenges faced by Ukrainian forces on the front lines.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian defenses, particularly in the eastern region of Donetsk, have been severely tested by a sustained and costly Russian offensive. The pace of Russian advancements has picked up, with reports indicating ground gains of up to 9 kilometers (over 5 miles) in certain Donetsk areas, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry on the social platform X.
The Ministry noted that Russian forces have a numerical advantage in personnel, and despite significant casualties, the Kremlin’s recruitment efforts are sustaining its military pressure. For the past year, Russia has stayed on the offensive in the conflict, while Ukrainian officials have voiced concerns regarding the delays in the arrival of Western military assistance.
Earlier this month, Russian troops succeeded in displacing Ukrainian forces from Vuhledar, a strategically important town sitting atop a crucial hill in eastern Ukraine, signaling a shift in the balance of power. Russian forces may now focus on capturing key logistical sites like Pokrovsk, as well as the strategically vital city of Chasiv Yar.
In conjunction with ground maneuvers, Russia has also maintained its long-range attacks on civilian targets within Ukraine. A recent strike on Zaporizhzhia resulted in six fatalities and wounded 16, as reported by regional Governor Ivan Fedorov.
Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, emphasized the urgent need for decisive action to curtail these Russian assaults. He asserted on Telegram that a more robust response from Ukraine’s Western allies is crucial to counter the ongoing aggression.
