North Korean troops withdrawn from frontline after heavy losses - NYT

According to Ukrainian and US officials, North Korean soldiers who had been fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine were withdrawn after sustaining significant casualties.

Anonymous sources noted that North Korean forces have not been observed at the front for approximately two weeks.

As the reports indicate, North Korea had deployed around 11,000 troops to Russia. As previously stated by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, the number of North Korean forces diminished by half over three months of fighting.

Ukrainian soldiers described the North Koreans as fierce fighters. However, disorganization and a lack of cohesion with Russian units quickly led to their losses. Advancing with limited armored vehicles, the North Korean troops rarely stopped to regroup or retreat.

US officials told The New York Times that the decision to withdraw North Korean forces from the frontlines could change. They noted that it is entirely possible the soldiers may return to combat after additional training or if the Russians find new ways to deploy them to avoid such heavy losses.

Situation in Kursk region

Ukraine's Defense Forces launched an operation in the Kursk region in early August 2024. At that time, Ukrainian troops managed to capture around a hundred settlements. However, part of the territory was lost in subsequent battles, and fighting in the region continues.

The Ukrainian command explained that the Kursk operation was a preventive measure to avert a Russian offensive in northern Ukraine.

In the fall, Russian forces involved North Korean troops in combat operations in the Kursk region. Ukrainian defenders managed to capture the first North Korean soldiers, who were transported to Kyiv for investigative actions.