North Korean troops join Russian assaults ‘in significant numbers’

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday, December 14, that Russia has started deploying a substantial number of North Korean soldiers for the first time to launch attacks on Ukrainian forces trying to defend a territory in Russia's Kursk region.

The Ukrainian president stated that the increased deployment of military forces marks a significant escalation in the conflict and urged the international community to react. He also noted that Donald Trump's potential return to the White House next month has led to discussions about renewed efforts for peace negotiations.

In his daily address to the nation, Zelenskyy informed Ukrainians that there are initial reports indicating that Russia has started deploying North Korean troops in their attacks, with a notable number involved.

He mentioned that North Koreans were currently deployed in joint Russian units, specifically on the Kursk front. However, he also noted that there are indications they might be used in other areas along the front line.

Kyiv initially reported that North Korean troops arrived in Russia's Kursk region back in October. They later mentioned vague details about encounters and some injuries. Current estimates suggest there are about 11,000 North Koreans present, which adds to a larger group of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers.

Russia has not acknowledged or refuted the existence of North Koreans within its territory.

In August, Ukraine, which has about 20% of its territory controlled by Russian forces, initiated an operation in the western Kursk area of Russia. This move led to the establishment of a small area that Ukraine claimed could serve as a leverage point in future negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict.

Ukraine has fought hard to maintain control of the region, but some military experts from the West have raised doubts about the reasons behind the invasion. They suggest that it has stretched an already lengthy front line, revealing Ukraine's manpower limitations while facing a more powerful opponent.

Kyiv claimed that the operation aimed to distract Russian troops, but this has not prevented Moscow from achieving its quickest advancements in the eastern region since 2022. Nonetheless, according to both Kyiv and Western sources, Russian forces have suffered significant losses.

Ukraine's General Staff has indicated a notable rise in Russian offensive actions along the Kursk front. This includes airstrikes, glide bomb attacks, and over 200 artillery strikes.

Andrii Kovalenko, a representative from Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, mentioned that North Korea has experienced casualties, although he did not specify any figures.

Kovalenko shared on Telegram that the Russians are relying on their numbers and are attempting to conduct offensive operations with support from the Koreans. The role of the Koreans appears to be to move quickly under attack from our forces and seize specific territory.

With Trump's comeback bringing attention to a possible conclusion to the conflict, Kyiv has called on Western nations to strengthen its position and expressed concerns about the risks of escalation. This sentiment was echoed by Zelenskyy when he criticized North Korea's involvement in the hostilities.

Essentially, Moscow has involved another country in this conflict to the greatest degree possible. If this isn't what people mean by escalation, then what exactly is? Zelenskyy remarked.

In his address, he made a new request to his allies, urging them to increase their backing for Kyiv. He mentioned that he plans to talk about this with European leaders next week.

Zelenskiy intends to participate in the European Council meeting taking place in Brussels on Wednesday in December, where he will meet with the EU leaders.