Reports from international news agencies or official statements from the Ukrainian or U.S. defense departments

8,000 North Korean Troops in Russia's Kursk Region Expected to Enter Combat Soon, U.S. Says

Oct 31, 2024, 06:32 PM

According to Ukrainian intelligence and reports from the Financial Times, as of October 28, approximately 3,000 North Korean soldiers, including special forces, were deployed to Russia's Kursk region and stationed in barracks about 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood, later updated the number to around 8,000 troops. Blinken stated that these troops are expected to engage in combat against Ukrainian forces in the coming days, although they have not yet been seen in combat. The North Korean soldiers have been training in artillery, drones, and infantry operations, including trench clearing, and have been outfitted with Russian uniforms and equipment.