Russian and North Korean troops are amassing a 50,000-strong force in Russia’s western Kursk region to dislodge Ukrainian troops who have held ground in this Russian border area since a surprise August offensive.
In a Telegram post on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian soldiers are currently facing nearly “50,000 enemy troops” in Kursk. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine intends to “considerably strengthen” its positions on the eastern fronts of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove, where the fighting is most intense.
The Ukrainian offensive into the Kursk region, which began in August, was the first incursion by Ukrainian troops into Russian territory since World War II. As reported by CNN, Russia’s military buildup in Kursk has included reinforcements from North Korea.
U.S. defense officials estimate that 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to support Russian front-line forces in the area. Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said any North Korean troops participating in combat would be considered targets.
“We’ll see exactly how these forces are integrated into Russian operations, and how they’re committed to the battlefield, assuming that they are replacements for Russian forces,” Ryder said. “Should these troops engage in combat support operations against Ukraine, they would become legitimate military targets.”
Over the weekend, Russia and Ukraine exchanged an unprecedented number of drone strikes, with Moscow launching 145 drones on Saturday night alone.
