December 17th 2024.
A soldier, fighting for Russia, gazes out from a makeshift shelter, captured in imagery by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On the other side, a soldier, suspected to be from North Korea, looks up at a Ukrainian drone as he takes cover on the snowy Russian frontline. These images have surfaced following the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to support Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion.
The 95th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of Ukraine has reported that these North Korean "mercenaries" have been marching in large numbers towards what they call the "meat grinder". They have also shared a video that allegedly shows these reinforcements being taken down in an open assault. Further imagery shows the soldier, fully equipped with tactical gear, crouching down beside a tree in Kursk Oblast, an area where Ukrainian forces have taken over a part of Russian territory.
There have been multiple reports, along with images of captured or deceased North Korean soldiers, indicating that Putin's reinforcements are actively participating in combat over 4,000 miles away from their homeland. Ukrainian journalist Andriy Tsaplienko has reported that around 500 North Korean troops were involved in wave attacks on Plekhovo in Kursk, with an estimated loss of half of their total forces.
According to Tsaplienko, the defenders successfully repelled an initial attack but eventually succumbed to the overwhelming numbers of the second and third assaults, resulting in the loss of the village. The North Korean troops suffered heavy casualties and had to use trucks to remove the fallen soldiers after the attack in early December.
In a recent social media post, the 95th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade, part of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that the Russians lost over 50 personnel in just two days, with more than 100 soldiers sustaining severe injuries. They also mentioned the continuous failed attempts by the enemy to storm their positions and confirmed the presence of North Korean troops, who they believe are marching "zealously into the meat grinder". However, they could only confirm this after capturing a North Korean soldier and hearing their story.
Independent Russian media outlet Mediazona has also reported the presence of soldiers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the battlefield. One of their videos allegedly shows North Korean troops participating in wave attacks on Ukrainian positions in Kursk Oblast. Another video captured by Ukrainian forces shows North Korean soldiers in dugouts just moments before a drone strike.
The presence of North Korean troops in the area has been confirmed by South Korean intelligence, who estimated that around 3,000 troops had arrived in Russia by October 23, with plans to send up to 12,000 in total. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that a significant number of these North Korean personnel have already been deployed and have suffered noticeable losses.
These reinforcements have been sent to attack the Ukrainian-controlled salient, which they have held for more than four months. This offensive marks the first time that foreign troops have captured ground within Russia's legal borders since World War Two. In a previous report, we described how one of the first Ukrainian soldiers to enter Moscow's legal territory opened fire on a truck carrying Russian troops, catching them off guard. The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces operator sensed fear among the Kremlin's soldiers as they made their way into Russian territory.
The respected Institute for the Study of War in the US has reported that Russian forces have made progress in the oblast, while Ukrainian forces have managed to regain lost positions in other parts of the battlefield. It is a constantly evolving situation and we will continue to update you with the latest developments. If you have a story related to this conflict, please contact us.
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