Russia wants to launch a 50,000-strong offensive in Kursk Oblast, including North Koreans

Russia is preparing for an offensive in Kursk Oblast with a force of 50,000 troops, including North Korean troops, The New York Times reported Nov. 10, citing U.S. and Ukrainian officials.

According to Ukrainian officials, the attack will begin in the near future. Ukraine launched the surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk Oblast in August and is holding its positions, although Russian forces have managed to recapture about half of the territory.

According to a new US assessment, Russia has amassed 50,000 troops without withdrawing its soldiers from the Eastern Front. Eastern Ukraine remains a priority for Russia and it has made notable progress in the southern Donetsk Oblast and near Toretsk, Khasiv Yar and Kupiansk.

Although Russia has managed to recapture parts of Kursk Oblast with rocket attacks and artillery fire, it has not yet launched a major attack there, a U.S. official told the New York Times.

The new force comes as Russia recorded its worst casualties last month and North Korean troops could replace injured and killed Russian soldiers, according to some experts. Chief Admiral of the British Defense Staff Anthony Radakin claimed Russia lost an average of 1,500 soldiers every day in October.

North Korean troops who arrived in Russia last month are believed to be directly involved in the operation in the Kursk region. According to a Ukrainian official, the troops were divided into an attack unit and a support unit.

They will fight as light infantry and are therefore vulnerable to Ukrainian artillery and drone attacks without the support of armored vehicles, the New York Times wrote.

U.S. officials expect Russian and North Korean soldiers to suffer heavy casualties fighting the Ukrainians in Kursk Oblast.

North Korea has already deployed around 11,000 soldiers to Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on November 4.

There are currently clashes between Ukrainian and North Korean soldiers, said Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on November 5th.

North Korean troops had already suffered casualties, Zelensky confirmed on November 7, without mentioning the number.