At least 30 North Korean soldiers killed or wounded in Russia’s Kursk region: Ukraine
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A Ukrainian soldier stands on a Leopard tank near Pokrovsk, in the eastern Donetsk region, on Dec 13.
PHOTO: AFP
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KYIV – Ukraine said on Dec 16 that its troops have killed or wounded at least 30 North Korean soldiers deployed by Russia to its western Kursk region, where Ukraine has seized territory.
Thousands of troops from North Korea have come to reinforce Russian forces, including in the Kursk border region where Russia has been clawing back territory
“On Dec 14 and 15, army units from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea suffered significant losses near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, Martynovka in the Kursk region of Russia – at least 30 soldiers were killed and wounded,” Ukraine’s military intelligence said.
The units are “being replenished with fresh personnel” from North Korea, which Western officials estimate has sent at least 10,000 soldiers to help Moscow.
Russia and North Korea have boosted their military ties since Moscow’s invasion.
Russia has begun deploying “a noticeable number” of North Koreans
He said “the Russians include (North Koreans) in combined units and use them in operations in the Kursk region”, where Ukraine launched an incursion in August.
Mr Zelensky said he has also heard the North Koreans “may be used in other parts of the front line”, and that “losses among this category are also already noticeable”.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said last week that its troops recaptured some small settlements in the Kursk region.
In November, a Ukrainian army source said Kyiv controlled 800 sq km of territory there, down from previous claims that it controlled around 1,400 sq km. AFP
