Ukrainian special operations troops successfully repelled a large-scale assault by North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast on Wednesday, according to the 8th Regiment of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces. The battle, which lasted eight hours, resulted in 21 North Korean troops killed and 40 wounded before the Ukrainian unit retreated.
The Ukrainian regiment, heavily outnumbered by North Korean troops, held their ground in a wooded area near the hamlet of Kruglenkoe. They reportedly used grenade launchers, sniper rifles and drones in the attack. A video shared by the regiment shows North Korean troops crossing open terrain and engaging in close-quarters combat.
The 8-hour-long fierce skirmish between Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces and North Korean troops in russia’s Kursk region was filmed on bodycam. Ukrainian forces, supported by friendly infantry, fought back the North Korean meat grinder assault. pic.twitter.com/2rYWBtst6z
— SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES OF UKRAINE (@SOF_UKR) January 22, 2025
The fighting culminated in the Ukrainian forces retreating in two armored Humvees after depleting most of their ammunition.
Despite the intensity of the battle, Ukrainian officials said none of their soldiers were injured.
North Korea has deployed approximately 12,000 troops to support Russia in its efforts to push Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region.
Since their deployment in October 2024, the North Korean troops have suffered heavy losses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed earlier this month that North Korean casualties in the region total around 4,000, including killed and wounded soldiers.
Reports suggest that Russia is paying over $2,000 for each North Korean soldier, though it remains unclear how much of this amount reaches individual soldiers or is retained by the Pyongyang government.
