Summary
For the first time, Ukrainian forces have reportedly engaged North Korean troops recently deployed to support Russia in the ongoing war, marking a new phase in the conflict.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed “small-scale” fighting with North Korean units in Russia’s Kursk region, where about 12,000 North Korean soldiers are expected under a Russia-North Korea pact. This deployment signals a significant shift in global security dynamics, with East Asian troops now involved in a European conflict.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to make gains in eastern Ukraine, straining Ukrainian defenses and intensifying calls for faster Western military aid.
It was always over 11k total, but the first time it came to public news in a big article was about a specific shipment of 2 or 3K one or two weeks ago for the first arrivals. Those early articles were already mentioning both numbers without being very clear. In the following week, reports from Ukraine and the Pentagon kept coming public about the total force actually making it to Ukrainian land.