Battle of Kursk: Ukraine repels North Korean-backed wave assault tactics

By Rostyslav Averchuk

Lviv, Ukraine Dec 15 (EFE).- Ukraine has claimed its forces successfully repelled the first wave of attacks by North Korean soldiers deployed by Russia in the Kursk region.

According to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR), North Korean soldiers are now integrated into Russia’s combined marine infantry and airborne assault units.

Ukrainian soldiers have reported encounters with these forces, describing their tactics as relentless and costly.

In one such encounter, Ukrainian kamikaze drones targeted a group of these combined forces, resulting in an estimated 200 casualties, either killed or wounded, GUR reported.

First Battles in Kursk
Ukrainian military correspondent Yuri Butusov revealed that a battalion of North Korean soldiers launched an assault on Ukrainian positions near Malaya Loknya on Saturday, supported by Russian forces.

“The enemy advanced despite heavy losses and artillery fire, employing tactics reminiscent of the ‘human wave’ strategies used by North Korean and Chinese forces during the Korean War of 1950–53,” Butusov stated on social media.

Although North Korean soldiers initially overwhelmed some Ukrainian positions by advancing rapidly without halting to evacuate their wounded, Ukrainian forces mounted a successful counterattack.

“Footage in Ukrainian command’s possession shows dozens of North Korean soldiers’ corpses. It remains unclear whether any were captured,” Butusov added.

A Ukrainian officer and military blogger, known as “Alex,” described the North Korean soldiers as highly disciplined and capable of downing several Ukrainian drones. Despite suffering heavy vehicle losses, they continued to attack in an organized manner.

However, Alex criticized Russia’s use of North Korean troops as “cannon fodder,” leading to significant casualties.

The language barrier between North Korean and Russian forces also hindered coordination.

In one instance, GUR reported, eight Chechen fighters from Ramzan Kadyrov’s forces were killed in friendly fire by North Koreans.

The Kursk Battlefield
GUR estimates that some 11,000 North Korean soldiers are now stationed on Russian soil, primarily in Kursk, where they are used as infantry to bolster Russia’s numbers.

According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, Russia is prioritizing the recapture of Kursk alongside its efforts to seize the Donbas region.

Despite these efforts, Ukraine retains control over approximately 520 square km of territory in Kursk, according to the DeepState analytical platform.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War noted limited Russian progress in the area in recent days, while Ukrainian forces continue to conduct counter-attacks.

Oleksiy Melnyk, an international security expert at Kyiv’s Razumkov Centre, suggested that even if Russia regains more territory in Kursk, Ukraine’s presence there could bolster its position in any future negotiations.

Ukraine’s surprise offensive, launched in August, has significantly boosted morale despite earlier setbacks in Donetsk and forced Russia to divert tens of thousands of troops from other areas of the conflict.

Urgent Call for Support
Ukrainian forces have repelled initial assaults by North Korean soldiers but face an uphill battle against their sheer numbers.
Military correspondent Butusov emphasized the urgent need for increased drone and ammunition supplies to counter the “waves” of enemy troops.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia could deploy North Korean soldiers to other parts of the frontline and called for decisive action from Ukraine’s international partners.

Kovalenko urged stronger and more urgent responses to this escalation. “If Europe continues to rely solely on the US and Ukraine, these North Korean troops could eventually target NATO territory,” cautioned Kovalenko. EFE

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