Russian Missile Strike in Sumy Kills 20 on Palm Sunday

Ukrainian soldiers have reported increasing encounters with North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region, according to a February 10 report by EL PAÍS. Since December 2024, Ukrainian forces, specifically the 8th Special Forces Regiment, have aimed to capture evidence of North Korean involvement, countering Kremlin propaganda. Intelligence estimates indicate that over 11,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Kursk as part of a mutual defense agreement between North Korea's Kim Jong-un and Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on February 7 that North Korean troops have returned to the frontline, despite a perceived retreat due to significant casualties, with Ukrainian intelligence estimating North Korean losses at 4,000 over three months. Ukrainian military personnel describe North Korean soldiers as highly motivated and well-trained, but criticize their outdated tactics and lack of modern support compared to Russian forces. They highlight a troubling determination among North Korean soldiers to charge forward, often at the expense of their own lives.