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.