Russians training North Korean soldiers, offensive expected to begin in coming days.
This was reported by the New York Times, citing US and Ukrainian officials.
A new US assessment says Russia has amassed forces without having to withdraw soldiers from eastern Ukraine, its top combat priority. This allows Moscow to exert pressure on several fronts simultaneously.
The Russians have attacked Ukrainian positions with missile strikes and artillery fire, but have not yet launched a major offensive there, U.S. officials said. Ukrainian officials say they expect such an attack involving North Korean troops in the coming days.
The North Koreans are currently training with Russian forces in the far western part of Kursk.
One Western official said Ukraine's surprise incursion into Kursk in August had reduced its forces on the battlefield in eastern Ukraine, leaving them vulnerable to a Russian advance. But the official and U.S. officials also believe Ukraine still has strong defenses in Kursk and may be able to hold out, at least for a while.
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North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to fight Russia in Kursk, U.S. officials said. The troops are wearing Russian uniforms and have been equipped by Moscow, but will likely fight in their own units, U.S. defense officials said.
Ukrainian officials said Moscow had supplied North Korean forces with machine guns, sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades.
North Korean soldiers will not be able to influence the actual course of the fighting blockquote>
Russia is training North Koreans in artillery fire, basic infantry tactics and, most importantly, trench clearing, U.S. officials said. The training suggests that at least some North Korean troops will be involved in frontal assaults on Ukraine's fortified defenses.
“We expect that North Korean soldiers may be involved in the fighting,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said. .
- This week, the United States confirmed the involvement of North Korean troops in fighting in the Kursk region, specifically the battles of Nov. 4.
- Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported that there have already been first clashes between Ukrainian and North Korean troops in the Kursk region.