Russian and North Korean forces have made significant battlefield advances in the Kursk region of Russia, threatening Ukraine’s supply lines and its hold on a patch of land it hopes to use as a bargaining chip in future negotiations. Ukrainian soldiers, Russian military bloggers, and military analysts report that a new influx of North Korean soldiers and well-trained Russian drone units have been able to overwhelm important Ukrainian positions, advancing under the cover of fierce artillery fire and aerial bombardment.
Ukrainian forces first crossed into Russian territory last summer in an unexpected assault, securing a bridgehead of some 200 square miles around the Russian town of Sudzha. This was the first time a foreign army entered Russian territory since World War II. Although military analysts are divided on whether the decision to carry out an offensive in Russian territory was beneficial or not, Ukrainian officials argue that it thwarted a possible Russian invasion into the Sumy region of Ukraine and forced Russia to divert resources away from the frontline in Ukraine.
More recently, Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine managed to stall Russian advances and stabilize their lines. However, the setbacks in Kursk are now jeopardizing Ukraine’s negotiating power as President Trump aims to force settlement talks. The arrival of approximately 12,000 North Koreans to join Russia in combat has had devastating costs, with an estimated 4,000 troops killed in battle.
Ukrainian soldiers recount that their positions are overwhelmed by the sheer number of North Koreans attacking in groups of 50, while they only have six men on their positions. Despite this, they state that they still manage to carry out their assigned tasks.
North Korean soldiers have improved their tactics in adapting to the battlefield, where drones have become a prominent feature of warfare. Ukrainian soldiers report that North Koreans are now operating more cohesively and working better with Russian drone units, using miniature fiber-optic drones that can avoid jamming and strike more effectively at Ukraine’s supply lines.
Despite the difficulties, Ukrainian forces have retreated in an organized manner and managed to hold their positions. However, the enemy’s focus on cutting logistics and the high numbers of drones and well-trained crews have made the situation increasingly challenging for Ukraine.
Liubov Sholudko and Yuri Shyvala contributed reporting.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/08/world/europe/ukraine-russia-north-korea-kursk.html
