Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported a significant strategic development in the ongoing conflict with Russia, claiming that Ukraine’s military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is currently pinning down 50,000 Russian troops. This operation, Zelensky argues, is effectively reducing Moscow’s capacity to launch attacks within Ukrainian territory.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, Russia initially had 11,000 troops in Kursk when Ukraine began its surprise offensive in early August. However, a New York Times report suggests that Russia has managed to build up its troop presence without withdrawing soldiers from Ukraine.
The report also indicates that North Korean troops are being deployed in Kursk as part of an imminent Russian counter-offensive. Both Ukraine and the US claim that more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia, though Moscow has neither confirmed nor denied these reports.
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Gen Oleksandr Syrskyy, who recently inspected Ukrainian units in Kursk, emphasized the strategic importance of their presence. He stated that without Ukrainian forces in the region, tens of thousands of Russian assault units would be attacking Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk region.
The ongoing conflict continues to rage in Donetsk, with both sides accusing each other of damaging a dam near the Ukrainian-held town of Kurakhove. Russian troops have been slowly advancing towards Pokrovsk, a crucial supply hub for Ukrainian forces.
The relationship between Russia and North Korea has grown increasingly close since Russia’s international isolation following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently signed a mutual defense treaty with Russia, which was initially approved during a summit with Vladimir Putin in June.
The US has repeatedly accused North Korea of supplying significant military hardware to Russia, including ballistic missiles and launchers. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has also suggested that there might be a reciprocal arrangement where Moscow provides military technology to help North Korea evade international sanctions.
In a separate development, there has been speculation about a potential phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin following Trump’s recent election victory. The Washington Post reported that Trump warned Putin against escalating the war in Ukraine and mentioned America’s military presence in Europe. However, the Kremlin has denied these reports, and Trump’s team has declined to comment on the alleged private conversation.
The situation remains complex, with multiple geopolitical actors involved and tensions continuing to escalate in the region. Ukraine’s strategic maneuvers in Kursk represent a significant attempt to disrupt Russian military capabilities and protect its own territories.
