North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the western Kursk region have been withdrawn following significant casualties, Ukrainian military officials stated Friday. The reported departure marks a potential setback for Moscow, which had enlisted foreign reinforcements amid its ongoing war effort.
Oleksandr Kindratenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's Special Operations Forces, told AFP, "Over the past three weeks, we have not seen or detected any activity or military clashes with the North Koreans. We believe that they have been withdrawn because of the heavy losses that were inflicted."
The New York Times, citing Ukrainian and U.S. officials, corroborated Kyiv's claims, noting that North Korean soldiers have been absent from the battlefield for approximately two weeks.
North Korean Troop Deployment and Losses
Western, South Korean, and Ukrainian intelligence agencies have estimated that over 10,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed to support Russian forces in Kursk, where Ukraine launched a surprise cross-border offensive in August. The operation resulted in Kyiv capturing dozens of settlements, marking the first time since World War II that foreign forces had breached Russian territory.
While Moscow and Pyongyang never officially confirmed the presence of North Korean troops, Ukrainian forces claim to have captured or killed several of them in combat. Footage released by President Volodymyr Zelensky purportedly shows interrogations of North Korean prisoners of war.
According to Ukrainian officials, some wounded North Korean troops reportedly detonated grenades to avoid capture. A Ukrainian special forces commander told Sky News that the withdrawal may be part of a strategy to reassess and reinforce. They could be either "learning lessons from mistakes made during their first, bloody clashes with Ukrainian soldiers, tending to their wounded, or waiting for reinforcements," the commander said.
Kremlin Remains Silent on North Korean Withdrawal
The Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied the withdrawal of North Korean troops. When asked on Friday about reports of their absence from the front lines, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, "There are a lot of different arguments out there, both right and wrong. It's not worth commenting on every time."
Russia has faced mounting scrutiny over its reliance on external military support. In addition to North Korean reinforcements, Moscow has deepened its military cooperation with Iran, securing drone shipments for use in Ukraine.
Potential for North Korean Troops to Return
Despite reports of their withdrawal, U.S. officials suggest the move may be temporary. The New York Times reported that North Korean forces could return after additional training or if Russian commanders devise new tactics to reduce casualties.
The initial deployment of North Korean troops to Russia began in November 2024, with an estimated 11,000 soldiers arriving to bolster Moscow's ranks. Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that their numbers had been halved within three months due to battlefield losses.
Russia Gains Ground Elsewhere Despite Setback in Kursk
While Ukraine maintains control over portions of Kursk, Russia continues to advance in other areas. On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the capture of Novovasylivka, a village in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region. The area is close to the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk, a key point for military supply routes.
Moscow declared the annexation of Donetsk in 2022 despite not having full control of the region. However, Russia has not laid public territorial claims to neighboring Dnipropetrovsk, which has thus far avoided ground combat.