A defence intelligence update posted on Twitter by the UK Ministry of Defence has revealed that North Korean troops have been withdrawn from the frontline in Russia’s Kursk oblast, where they had been deployed to support Russian operations in Ukraine.

According to the update, North Korean forces, believed to number around 11,000 soldiers, had been assisting Putin’s army in efforts to recapture territory in the Kursk region following a surprise Ukrainian counterattack last summer.

The update stated:

“In January 2025, Russia’s territorial advances in Ukraine slowed as they took approximately 320 sq km, compared with approximately 400 sq km in December 2024. Russia seized control of the stronghold of Velyka Novosilka, but advances along most of the frontline have been relatively minor. Through 2024, Russian advances had been accelerating, with over 700 sq km taken in November 2024, one of the quickest rates of advance since the early stages of the conflict.”

The intelligence further detailed that:

“In Russia’s Kursk oblast, Russia made minor advances in January 2025. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea units which had been deployed on offensive combat operations in Kursk Oblast have temporarily withdrawn from frontline positions, likely to rest and refit before redeploying. This is almost certainly primarily due to heavy losses sustained during attacks against Ukrainian-held positions.”

While the update does not offer further details on the broader implications of these withdrawals, it provides a rare insight into the operational tempo and challenges faced by the allied forces supporting Russia’s campaign in Ukraine. The decision to withdraw these units for rest and refit is seen as a necessary measure following substantial attrition.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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13 COMMENTS

  1. In times of conflict “Believe half of what you read and nothing of what you hear”. Or if you get your news from MSN, don’t believe any of it.

      • Best to ignore Herodotus, mate. I won’t be rising to his bait, I gave my view the other day.
        The sad troll returns after many years, including time getting banned. Now cropping up in several articles with sly snipes in the usual direction
        ( me ) while trying desperately to integrate with those who don’t know the history of him.
        A sad life, I have better things to do enjoying myself than engage.

    • The BBC a couple of weeks ago reported Ukrainian claims that they had not seen any North Korean troops on the frontline for a while. The report noted that it was one unit making the claims so could not say what was happening across the whole front. This Intelligence report seems to confirm that.

      However, what really caught my attention is that Russian offensive action appears to be slowing down or becoming less effective. Clearly, the losses they have been taking must be having some effect but are they reducing their tempo while they regenerate units or are they still operating at the same tempo but not having the same effect? If it is the latter then they are suffering a fall in effectiveness e.g. running out of kit and / or troops…

      We know that the Russians have started to deploy T62 / 64 series tanks suggesting they have lost considerable number of the T72 that they started with and the casualty rate has been about 1200 per day for months now, or put it another way about 440,000 casualties (in round numbers) per year. That is a big number.

      There is, yet, hope for Ukraine.

      Cheers CR

      • Depends on which set of propaganda you choose to believe.

        History proves that nothing reported in times of conflict is ever accurate.

        Cheers H

        • True enough. Also, we do not know how many of those casualties returned to duty.

          All we can say is that this war is as pointless as it is bloody and all to simply stoke one man’s ego… For me Putin needs to lose this war for two main reasons.

          Firstly, he has a track record of getting involved in wars as he tries to rebuild Russia’s place in the world as he sees it. So a major set back may teach him caution as well as limit his military capabilities. Secondly, China, Russia, Iran and North Korea (sometimes labelled the CRINK nations) have been developing into an aligned grouping set on undermining the West. Putin suffering a significant set back in Ukraine with North Korea in tow, on top of Iran being weakened in the Middle East, might well give those countries pause for thought. If Putin does lose in Ukraine China will have seen all of the other three CRINK nations be knocked back to a greater or lesser extent which might highlight to Xi that throwing your weight around isn’t always the best option…

          Who knows what the future holds, but up until know at least things seem to have been heading in the wrong direction. The CRINK nation’s willingness to exploit and conduct grey area warfare is all part of their growing assertiveness, or aggressive tendencies, and a win for Putin will only encourage them further, I believe.

          Cheers CR

      • Possibly due to the large ammunition stores and munition/drone factories that Ukraine has been launching long-range attacks against for the last few months.

        • That would certain contribute to a decline in effectiveness. It would also have an impact on moral if munitions are running low, for example.

          Another point to note is that US supplies of artillery shells are probably improving after last year’s delayed support package finally went through Congress. Ukrainian artillery being able to provide on call fire support for frontline infantry would make a big difference. So improving Ukrainian effectiveness might also be coming into play.

          I know this all sounds a bit academic but understanding what is going on is important provided Western politicians take note and support Ukraine accordingly.

          Cheers CR

  2. Russian millbloggers on Telegram are complaining that the N Koreans have suffered numerous friendly fire casualties and their officers are being picked off by Ukraine snipers. Unsurprising, since Kim-un-fatman was told that his troops would first gain experience by being stationed behind the front lines in Kursk to prevent the front from collapsing, with Russian conscripts rapidly retreating without orders.

    • I bet that has done nothing for relations between the two armies.

      So are the North Koreans there to step up and fill gaps or are they there to impose discipline, a la WW2. If so then the retreating soldiers are shooting first, may be?

      Grim, whatever is happening.

      Cheers CR

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