Ukrainian authorities state that North Korean troops deployed in Russia remain actively engaged in frontline combat operations, particularly in the Kursk region bordering northern Ukraine.

Ukrainian defense intelligence reports that North Korean personnel stationed in the Kursk area are conducting offensive actions against Ukrainian positions along the border, operating under Russian military command. These forces are reported to be using multiple-launch rocket systems and other heavy weapons, while also participating in reconnaissance missions.

The Kursk region has become a key frontline zone adjacent to Ukraine’s Sumy region. Since Russian forces pushed Ukrainian units out of parts of Kursk last year, Moscow has reportedly carried out daily airstrikes against Sumy in an effort to establish a buffer zone along the border.

Ukrainian intelligence has not disclosed the exact number of North Korean troops currently present in Kursk but notes that rotations are taking place regularly in accordance with bilateral agreements between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Separately, Ukrainian assessments indicate that approximately 3,000 North Korean troops have already returned to their home country. Many of those personnel are reportedly serving as military instructors, transferring combat experience and knowledge gained from the war in Ukraine to the North Korean armed forces.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, North Korea’s primary motivation for involvement in the conflict is to gain firsthand experience in high-intensity modern warfare, with a particular focus on unmanned systems. The acquisition of practical drone warfare expertise is assessed as a central objective behind Pyongyang’s military support for Russia.

Under a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed with Moscow in mid-2024, North Korea is estimated to have deployed around 15,000 troops to the Kursk region beginning later that year. An additional contingent of roughly 1,000 engineers was subsequently dispatched to assist with demining operations and related tasks.

While North Korea has not released official casualty figures, intelligence assessments previously estimated that roughly 2,000 North Korean soldiers may have been killed during operations linked to the conflict.

Looking ahead, Ukrainian analysts assess that continued North Korean participation could enhance Pyongyang’s military capabilities well beyond the battlefield in Ukraine, particularly in drone operations and combined-arms tactics. At the same time, sustained foreign troop involvement on Russian territory is expected to deepen international concern over the widening scope and long-term implications of the war.