On January 11, 2024, a Russian airstrike on a nursing home in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, resulted in one fatality and significant damage to the facility, leaving approximately 70 elderly and disabled residents displaced. The attack, confirmed by Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi, occurred amidst renewed Ukrainian offensive operations in the region and follows reports of captured North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces. The incident highlights the vulnerability of civilians in the conflict zone and the challenges of relocating vulnerable populations. This attack occurred in an area previously visited by media on Ukrainian military-organized press tours.
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Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) recently reported eliminating 13 North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, employing both ground combat and drone strikes. The operation, part of ongoing SSO activity in the region since August 2024, involved multiple regiments and resulted in the recovery of weapons and documents suggesting the presence of North Korean officers. These actions are a response to Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops to bolster its forces facing Ukrainian offensives. The SSO’s actions have resulted in significant losses for both Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk Oblast.
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Intense fighting continued across multiple fronts in Ukraine, with 138 combat clashes reported in a single day. Russian forces launched 89 assaults primarily focused on the Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Vremivka fronts, while also engaging in 10 battles within Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled numerous attacks across various sectors, inflicting significant losses on Russian personnel and equipment. The ongoing conflict remains highly active and concentrated along the eastern and southern fronts.
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Since Ukraine’s August 6th incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast, over 38,000 Russian troops and 1,000 pieces of equipment have been lost, along with over 700 captured soldiers. Ukraine initially seized approximately 1,300 square kilometers, though intense fighting has reduced this control. The conflict also involves approximately 12,000 North Korean troops, with over 3,000 reported killed or wounded, highlighting the challenges of unfamiliar terrain and modern warfare. Ukraine intends to leverage the occupied territory in future negotiations.
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Ukrainian Special Operations Forces captured a North Korean soldier in Kursk Oblast on December 26th, marking the first confirmed capture of a North Korean fighting in the war. The operation also yielded a Russian BTR-82 armored personnel carrier and other materials. This follows earlier reports of North Korean troop deployments to Russia, with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers undergoing training. The captured soldier’s condition is currently unknown.
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Ukrainian forces struck a Russian 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade command post in Lgov, Kursk Oblast, on December 25th, targeting it within an abandoned civilian building. This attack, part of a broader campaign to disrupt Russian military operations, resulted in reported civilian casualties according to Russian sources, though these claims remain unverified. While Kursk Oblast has seen previous intense fighting, recent Ukrainian territorial gains there have reportedly been significantly reduced. Furthermore, Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops has allegedly resulted in substantial casualties.
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President Zelensky announced that over 3,000 North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast have been killed or injured. This figure, based on Ukrainian intelligence, significantly surpasses previous reports and highlights the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. The deployment of approximately 12,000 North Korean troops since August has reportedly aided Russia in limited territorial gains, despite high casualty rates among inexperienced soldiers. Zelensky warned of the escalating global risks associated with this collaboration, including the potential for further troop and arms transfers from North Korea.
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An intercepted phone call, purportedly between a Moscow hospital nurse and her soldier husband in Kursk Oblast, indicates that hundreds of wounded North Korean troops are arriving by train, filling hospital wards. This aligns with recent Western reports estimating substantial North Korean casualties in the region, possibly due to inexperience. While verification is pending, the claims suggest heavy losses among the reportedly 10,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to support Russia’s offensive in Kursk Oblast. Despite these losses, Russia and its allies maintain a significant offensive pressure in the area.
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In three days of fighting in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces reported eliminating 50 North Korean soldiers and wounding 47 more, supported by FPV drone footage. This follows earlier reports of North Korean troop deployments to the region by Russia, with Ukrainian sources claiming significant casualties during ground assaults. While the full extent of losses remains unclear due to reported Russian obfuscation, the Pentagon independently confirmed North Korean combat participation and casualties. These actions by the 8th Special Forces Regiment targeted not only personnel but also several pieces of military equipment.
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Near Kursk, Russia launched a major offensive to breach Ukrainian defenses and cut off supply lines, committing significant armored forces. These attacks, focused initially on the Snagost River and later around Tolstyi Lug, were met with devastating Ukrainian resistance using layered defenses, including Javelin missiles and FPV drones. The resulting heavy losses of Russian armor, particularly tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, forced a shift to ineffective infantry assaults. Ultimately, the Russian offensive failed to achieve its objectives, highlighting the strength of Ukrainian defenses and the futility of Russia’s approach.
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John Q. Hosedrinker