North Korean soldiers vanish from battlefield in Russia's Kursk Oblast
After several weeks of relentless attacks, North Korean soldiers deployed by dictator Kim Jong-un to support Russian forces in the war against Ukraine have practically disappeared from the battlefield in Kursk, The Washington Post reported on Jan. 19
Russian forces continue to advance on Ukrainian positions in Kursk, according to the journalists' sources, citing Ukrainian military personnel fighting in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
The "sudden absence" of North Korean troops on the battlefield may indicate that they are regrouping and assessing their future actions, the article notes. It could also be a result of numerous injuries and exhaustion from recent battles.
Read also: North Korean troops unknowingly sent to Ukraine war, claims South Korean envoy
"They are licking their wounds," The Washington Post quotes a Ukrainian soldier named Vitaliy, who spent eight hours in a firefight with North Korean military personnel in December.
According to Ukrainian fighters, when North Korean troops first appeared on the battlefield in Kursk Oblast, they moved in large groups and made no attempt to hide from Ukrainian drones. Consequently, many were killed in the initial assaults.
However, those who participated in subsequent battles proved to be combat-ready, resilient, and good shooters, the Ukrainian fighters told journalists. The North Koreans are learning from their mistakes and adapting to modern warfare conditions.
Losses of the North Korean army in Kursk Oblast
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian military personnel are attempting to burn the faces of deceased North Korean soldiers who participated in battles against Ukrainian forces to conceal their losses.
On Jan. 9, Zelenskyy reported that the losses of North Korean soldiers had reached 4,000.
On Jan. 11, the Ukrainian leader announced that the Defense Forces had captured two wounded North Korean soldiers in Kursk Oblast. They were transported to Kyiv, where they were interrogated by SBU investigators.
After several weeks of relentless attacks, North Korean soldiers deployed by dictator Kim Jong-un to support Russian forces in the war against Ukraine have practically disappeared from the battlefield in Kursk, The Washington Post reported on Jan. 19
Russian forces continue to advance on Ukrainian positions in Kursk, according to the journalists' sources, citing Ukrainian military personnel fighting in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
The "sudden absence" of North Korean troops on the battlefield may indicate that they are regrouping and assessing their future actions, the article notes. It could also be a result of numerous injuries and exhaustion from recent battles.
Read also: North Korean troops unknowingly sent to Ukraine war, claims South Korean envoy
"They are licking their wounds," The Washington Post quotes a Ukrainian soldier named Vitaliy, who spent eight hours in a firefight with North Korean military personnel in December.
According to Ukrainian fighters, when North Korean troops first appeared on the battlefield in Kursk Oblast, they moved in large groups and made no attempt to hide from Ukrainian drones. Consequently, many were killed in the initial assaults.
However, those who participated in subsequent battles proved to be combat-ready, resilient, and good shooters, the Ukrainian fighters told journalists. The North Koreans are learning from their mistakes and adapting to modern warfare conditions.
Losses of the North Korean army in Kursk Oblast
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian military personnel are attempting to burn the faces of deceased North Korean soldiers who participated in battles against Ukrainian forces to conceal their losses.
On Jan. 9, Zelenskyy reported that the losses of North Korean soldiers had reached 4,000.
On Jan. 11, the Ukrainian leader announced that the Defense Forces had captured two wounded North Korean soldiers in Kursk Oblast. They were transported to Kyiv, where they were interrogated by SBU investigators.
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Summary
North Korean soldiers, deployed by Kim Jong-un to aid Russian forces in Ukraine's Kursk Oblast, have largely vanished from the battlefield. Their absence could indicate regrouping or injury/exhaustion. Ukrainian sources claim initial assaults led to numerous casualties but later fights showed