Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported significant losses among Russian and North Korean forces in recent clashes in the southern Kursk region of Russia.
In his January 4 evening address, Zelensky stated that Russian and North Korean troops had suffered heavy casualties near the village of Makhnovka. According to Ukraineβs top military commander, the Russian army lost up to a battalion of North Korean infantry and Russian paratroopers in the region.
While Zelensky did not provide further details, a battalion typically consists of several hundred soldiers, emphasizing the scale of the loss.
In late 2024, Zelensky called on China to leverage its influence over North Korea to prevent the deployment of North Korean troops on the front lines, aligning with China’s stance on avoiding further escalation in the conflict. Reports indicate that Russia had deployed around 12,000 North Korean soldiers to bolster their efforts in Kursk, with the first confirmed engagement between Ukrainian and North Korean troops occurring on November 5.
Ukrainian forces began their incursion into Kursk Oblast on August 6, aiming to secure territory that could serve as a strategic advantage in future negotiations with Russia. Fighting has continued in the region ever since.
