President Volodymyr Zelensky reported vital losses amongst Russian and North Korean forces throughout current clashes in Russia's southern Kursk area.

"In battles yesterday and at the moment close to a single village, Makhnovka, in Kursk area, the Russian military misplaced as much as a battalion of North Korean infantry troopers and Russian paratroops," Zelensky mentioned in his night handle on Jan. 4, citing info from Ukraine's high commander.

He added that "that is vital." Whereas Zelensky didn’t share additional particulars, a battalion usually consists of a number of hundred troops.

In late 2024, Zelensky additionally known as on China to make use of its affect over North Korea to stop the deployment of North Korean troopers to the entrance line.

"The Korean folks mustn’t lose their folks in battles in Europe. And this may be influenced, specifically, by Korea's neighbors, specifically, China. If China is honest in its statements that the battle mustn’t increase, applicable affect on Pyongyang is critical," Zelensky mentioned.

Russia has stationed roughly 12,000 North Korean troopers within the Kursk area to help in ousting Ukrainian forces. The primary confirmed battles between Ukrainian and North Korean items occurred on Nov. 5.

Ukraine first started its shock incursion into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6. Ukrainian forces have been combating to carry onto territory within the area ever since in hopes it may be used as a bargaining chip in future negotiations with Russia.

Russia has lost over 38,000 troops in Kursk Oblast, Syrskyi saysThe Russian army has lost over 38,000 troops and more than 1,000 pieces of equipment since the beginning of Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Jan. 1.The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova