Russia deploys North Korean troops in Kursk, Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on December 14 that Russia has deployed North Korean troops to support its military operations in the Kursk region.

“Today there are already preliminary data that the Russians have begun using soldiers from North Korea in the assaults — a noticeable number,” Zelensky said. “The Russians include them in consolidated units and use them in operations in the Kursk region. For now, it is only there.”

Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) echoed these claims, reporting that North Korean soldiers are likely to begin direct assaults on Ukrainian positions soon. “In recent days, the troops received additional food supplies,” the HUR said, adding that on December 13, the units were put on alert and ordered to await further instructions.

The HUR further revealed that some North Korean soldiers had been transported covertly to the front line using civilian trucks disguised as water-delivery vehicles. The intelligence agency called this development a probable escalation in Russia’s reliance on foreign military personnel.

While these reports remain unverified and the Russian Defense Ministry has not commented, the deployment marks another turn in the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian forces have maintained control of certain areas in the Kursk region since their incursion in August, despite Russia’s increasing use of reinforcements, including thousands of North Korean troops since October.