North Korean troops are said to have joined Russian forces in fighting in Ukraine, which is a new development in the war between Russia and Ukraine. This shocking news was confirmed by Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine. It means that the war is getting worse in a dangerous way.
It is said by Zelensky that a “significant number” of North Korean troops are currently carrying out assault operations in Kursk Oblast. Their participation seems to be limited to this area for now, but their presence has very big effects. “The Russians have begun to use North Korean soldiers in their assaults — a significant number of them,” said Zelensky. “They are included in combined units and deployed in operations in Kursk Oblast.”
An Alliance Born Out of War
Since the war started, relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have grown much stronger. This year, the two countries signed a defence treaty that says they will help each other with armed action if they are attacked. Russia says that North Korea has given them more than 100 ballistic missiles and 5 million howitzer shells. In return, Russia has helped Pyongyang with its economy and nuclear program.
The arrival of North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast is a major step up in the situation. As early as the autumn of 2024, Ukrainian and Western officials said that more than 10,000 North Korean troops had gathered in the area and were ready to help Russian forces. Early in November, the first fights involving North Korean troops were recorded. By early December, Zelensky confirmed that these soldiers had died, but he did not say how many.
Foes and friendly fire on the battlefield
It has not been easy for North Korean men to join the Russian military. On December 16, Ukraine’s military intelligence service (HUR) reported a shocking event: eight Russian soldiers were killed when North Korean soldiers opened fire on members of the Chechen Akhmat unit fighting for Russia. HUR said that the “friendly fire” event happened because of a lack of communication and coordination.
To deal with these problems, Russian officials have put in place strict rules in areas where North Korean troops are stationed. For example, Russian soldiers who enter these areas are required to turn in their electronic devices. Even with these steps, it is clear that the allied troops are in conflict with each other.
Zelensky warns of a bigger danger
Zelensky said that Russia’s use of North Korean troops was a dangerous step up in the situation. He said, “Putin has brought another country into this war.” “If this is not escalation, then what is?”
At the moment, North Korean troops are only in Kursk Oblast, but Zelensky warned that they might be sent to other frontlines as well. These troops are still involved, but they have already suffered “noticeable losses,” which shows how bad the war is in the area.
Ukraine Responds in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
Even with these changes, Ukraine’s military is still fighting back and stopping Russian activities. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast on December 16, Ukrainian troops did a brave act of sabotage by destroying a Russian train carrying 40 fuel tanks. An intelligence source said that the goal of this operation, which was carried out by several Ukrainian agencies, was to damage a key supply line that brought fuel from Crimea to areas that were held by Russia. The plan successfully derailed the train and set the tanks on fire, which was a huge blow to Russian logistics.
Tensions are rising along the front line
The general level of intensity of the war has grown. On Dec. 16, the Ukrainian General Staff reported 292 battles. Russian troops attacked over and over with artillery, rockets, and kamikaze drones in many areas, such as Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson. Even though they are outnumbered and outgunned in some places, Ukrainian defenders are still holding key points and fending off attacks.
The situation is still dangerous, though. Russian troops have taken over key positions in Donetsk Oblast, including the city council in Kurakhiv. This makes people worry about Ukraine’s ability to keep its defences up. Commanders on the ground have said that the conditions are very tough because Russian troops have so many people and so much firepower.
Setbacks for Russia in the environment and in its plans
In a different event, bad weather caused two Russian oil tankers to sink in the Kerch Strait on December 16. The tankers, which were said to be carrying 4,000 tonnes of fuel oil each, were old ships that had been quickly updated many years ago. This loss makes things even harder for Russia to handle logistically in the area, where Ukrainian attacks on Russian naval forces have already been successful.
A New Stretch of the War
The fact that North Korean troops are involved in the war between Russia and Ukraine is a worrying new development. As alliances change and new players join the fight, their presence makes the global stakes of this war even higher. Each day that goes by, the fight gets harder for Ukraine, but they are still determined. The world is scared as this war moves into a new, more dangerous phase with no end in sight.
