Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported that his military’s ongoing incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is tying down around 50,000 Russian troops, limiting Moscow’s ability to deploy them within Ukraine. In his latest address, Zelensky highlighted that the operation aimed to reduce Russian attacks on Ukrainian soil, despite some skepticism from Western allies.
The New York Times has reported that Russia’s troop build-up in Kursk includes North Korean forces, with around 50,000 troops now poised for a counter-offensive. According to US and Ukrainian sources, more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to support Russian efforts.
Meanwhile, fighting continues in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, where Ukrainian and Russian forces accuse each other of damaging a dam near Kurakhove, a strategic area close to the city of Pokrovsk.
In related developments, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ratified a mutual defense treaty with Russia. Amid reports of Donald Trump’s re-election, the Kremlin has denied claims of a recent call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
