North Korean troops may join Russia’s offensive in Kharkiv, Sumy oblasts, Ukrainian intelligence warns
North Korean forces could be involved in Russia’s planned offensive against Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, according to Andrii Cherniak, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, in an interview with Japan’s NHK.
Cherniak said North Korean troops have suffered 5,000 casualties in battles against Ukraine, with 6,000 more currently stationed in Russia’s Kursk Oblast and capable of continued fighting. He noted that North Korean forces have evolved, improving their training and shifting tactics.
“Initially, they launched large-scale assaults and became targets for Ukrainian artillery and drones, but now they move in groups of one or two,” Cherniak said.
The anticipated language barrier with Russian forces has not hindered North Korean operations, as they receive tasks and execute assaults without direct communication with Russian troops.
Cherniak also indicated that Russia is considering attacks on Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, and he did not rule out North Korean involvement in these offensives.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously warned that Russia plans a spring offensive targeting Sumy and Kharkiv. He noted that Russia has amassed new forces opposite Sumy, stating Ukraine has the right to take all measures to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from seizing more territory.
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi later confirmed that Russia’s offensive in Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts has already begun.