North Korean soldiers are preparing to enter Ukrainian territory for the first time, playing an increasingly significant role in Russia’s offensives against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. Kyiv has assessed that their deployment is part of a broader Russian strategy to sever supply lines and isolate Ukrainian defenders. Reports indicate that Pyongyang has already reinforced its troops in the region with thousands of additional soldiers following battlefield casualties.
Sergey Grabsky, a retired colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated that North Korean forces could potentially enter Sumy province. He noted that predicting Russian military movements is challenging, citing previous miscalculations about Russia’s ability to sustain advances despite heavy losses. Regarding the North Korean presence in Kursk, Grabsky warned that their movements resemble a structured operation aimed at cutting off critical Ukrainian supply routes. The lack of a clear border demarcation in the area increases the likelihood of their incursion into Sumy.
Russian forces are attempting to establish a zone of active combat in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, directly across the border from Kursk. Ukrainian border guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko confirmed that enemy forces continue to push toward Novenke, attempting to gain a foothold on Ukrainian soil. He described the assault groups as small but persistent, working to establish a presence that could later be expanded to cut off Ukraine’s logistical networks.
Ukrainian border guards are actively countering these incursions using artillery and other defensive tactics to prevent enemy forces from consolidating their position. However, the Russian strategy suggests that Moscow does not intend to stop at the national border. Should it manage to reclaim the remaining contested areas around the village of Sudzha, its troops could push further into Ukraine.
Russia is employing advanced military technology, including fibre optic drones, in the Kursk region. These small, high-speed drones are controlled via cables resistant to electronic jamming, giving Russian forces a technological advantage in surveillance and targeting. A Ukrainian soldier speaking to Suspilne, Ukraine’s public broadcaster, acknowledged the challenging situation, stating that current developments were not favourable for Ukraine.
