Ukraine's forces in Russia's Kursk oblast face an imminent offensive by Moscow involving a force of tens of thousands, it has been reported, as a map shows the state of play on the front line three months on from Kyiv's incursion.
While initially tardy in its response, Russia is gathering 50,000 soldiers ahead of a major push, North Korean troops among them, The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing unnamed U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
The NYT said that a new U.S. assessment concluded that Russia had massed the force without having to pull soldiers out of Ukraine's east, which has allowed Moscow to press on several fronts simultaneously, such as in the southern Donetsk oblast, and near Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kupiansk.
Citing Ukrainian officials, the NYT said North Korean troops were given machine guns, sniper rifles, antitank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades and are trained in artillery fire, basic infantry tactics as well as trench clearing, suggesting some will be involved in frontal assaults on Kyiv's dug-in defensive positions.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
The introduction of North Korean troops has added uncertainty to the conflict although there are question marks over their capabilities.
"I would recommend not to overstate the threat posed by North Korean troops," Viktor Kovalenko, a geopolitical analyst and Ukrainian military veteran, told Newsweek.
"Initial information indicates that these troops are inadequately trained and equipped, and Russian military lacks armor and arms to enforce them," he said. "Their lack of Russian language skills presents a significant linguistic and cultural barrier to their integration within Russian forces.
"Furthermore, the number of North Koreans does not amount to hundreds of thousands, making it unlikely for them to penetrate defense lines through concentrated assaults," he added. "Also, this North Korean generation have never been to war, so they have greater chances to break and run away."
It comes as the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported gains by both sides in the main Ukrainian salient in Kursk, where Kyiv overran Russia's border on August 6 to claim quick advances, although Vladimir Putin's forces are reportedly clawing back territory by attacking positions with missile strikes and artillery fire.
In its update on Sunday, the Washington D.C. think tank cited geolocated footage indicating Ukrainian advances north of the town Novoivanovka, where Russian troops had made gains south of the settlement located near Korenevo.
The ISW also said Russian forces had advanced north of Sudzha, a town seized by Ukrainian forces soon after their invasion. The Russian Defense Ministry said that Kyiv had counterattacked southeast and east of Korenevo.
A Ukrainian brigade reported Russian forces had increased offensive operations using armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and tanks. Reportedly operating in the region are elements of the Russian 810th Naval Infantry Brigade from the Black Sea Fleet, as well as the Southern Military District.
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