Volodymyr Zelensky says North Korean soldiers take part in ‘assaults’ in Russian Kursk region

The Ukrainian president said that North Korean troops had suffered “notable losses”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday December 14 that North Korean troops fighting for Russia had carried out offensive actions in the part of the Russian Kursk region occupied by the Ukrainian army. “There is preliminary information that the Russians have started using North Korean soldiers in assaults – in a notable amount”specified the Head of State in his daily address on Telegram.

Ukraine has warned that Russia has amassed 50,000 troops, including several thousand North Korean troops, to regain control of areas of the Kursk region occupied by the Ukrainian army since a surprise offensive in early August. In late November, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin estimated that some 10,000 members of the North Korean military were in Russia’s Kursk region.

According to the Ukrainian president, North Korean troops are suffering “already notable losses”. He also accused Moscow of having crossed into war “another step”. “We have information claiming that they could be used in other parts of the front”he added.