By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A North Korean offensive toward Kruglenke, utilizing a narrow forest corridor, was decisively repelled by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian drone strikes and automatic grenade launchers inflicted heavy casualties on the densely packed North Korean troops. Despite suffering significant losses, North Korean forces persist in their attacks on Kruglenkoe, viewing it as the only remaining feasible avenue for achieving any offensive gains. The village’s buildings offer much-needed cover from Ukrainian fire, making it a crucial objective. This continued assault, however, is proving exceptionally costly for the North Koreans.
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North Korean forces suffered a devastating defeat in a Ukrainian ambush near the Russian village of Kruglenkoe on January 1st, 2025. The attack, a risky advance through a narrow forest corridor, was intended to outflank Ukrainian defenses and seize Kruglenkoe. This plan, however, quickly unravelled.
The narrow forest corridor, approximately four kilometers long and only 100 meters wide, proved to be a death trap. The slow, predictable movement of the large North Korean assault force through this confined space gave Ukrainian forces ample time to prepare and target them. The tightly packed formation of troops, forced by the narrow passage, made them exceptionally vulnerable to concentrated fire.
Ukrainian fighters effectively exploited this vulnerability. They unleashed a barrage of fire from British-supplied Mark 17 automatic grenade launchers, the high rate of fire and high-explosive rounds inflicting catastrophic casualties on the densely packed North Korean soldiers.
Simultaneously, Ukrainian hexacopters armed with multiple thermobaric grenades relentlessly attacked the trapped North Koreans. These drones, carrying a far greater payload than standard models, inflicted devastating damage, wiping out dozens of soldiers in each sortie. The combination of precise grenade launcher fire and drone strikes resulted in a massacre.
The sheer number of casualties was staggering. Only a handful of North Korean soldiers survived the ambush, all of them wounded and surrounded by the corpses of their comrades. These few survivors limped back to their rear positions, bearing witness to the complete annihilation of their unit. The Ukrainian forces reported that targeting the North Koreans within the narrow forest was remarkably easy, simpler even than their training exercises.
The failed attack highlights several key weaknesses in the North Korean forces. Their tactics were outdated, relying on a large, concentrated advance that was easily countered by modern technology. A lack of awareness regarding advanced drone reconnaissance compounded their problems, leaving them completely surprised and unprepared for the precision strikes. The North Koreans also lacked effective cover and maneuverability within the narrow forest, leaving them exposed to concentrated fire.
Despite this disastrous defeat, North Korean forces continue to attack in the Kruglenkoe direction. Kruglenkoe represents their last remaining viable vector of attack, a crucial position necessary to avoid a complete failure of their offensive in northern Kursk Salient. The village’s fifty houses with basements offer the vital concealment needed to escape the constant threat of Ukrainian shelling and drone strikes. North Korean commanders, recognizing this vulnerability of their troops, aimed to establish a foothold in Kruglenkoe to improve their defensive posture.
The initial attempts to reach Kruglenkoe across open fields resulted in heavy losses. Despite these setbacks, surviving North Korean soldiers have reinforced their positions at the southern edge of the forest, bringing them within 200 meters of the village. From this point, they intend to launch a rapid assault on Kruglenkoe, but this plan faces similar challenges of insufficient cover and predictable movement. The devastating outcome of this first attempt leaves serious doubts about the feasibility and likely success of any future efforts.
This brutal engagement underscores the devastating power of modern precision warfare when used against outdated tactics and poorly equipped troops. It paints a grim picture of the North Korean military, highlighting its lack of training, preparedness, and the apparent disregard for the lives of its soldiers. The continued attacks, despite heavy losses, signal a desperation to achieve at least some marginal success in this sector. But given the demonstrated effectiveness of Ukrainian tactics and technology, any further attempts are likely to meet with similarly disastrous results. The event serves as a powerful illustration of how technology and superior tactical awareness can outweigh sheer numbers on the battlefield.