‘They don’t give up’: Ukraine commander displays on first encounter with North Korean troops in Kursk

Maj. Oleh Shyriaiev, commander of Ukraine’s 225th Separate Assault Regiment, has recounted his first encounter with North Korean troops on the contact line close to Kruglenkoe, a village near the Ukrainian border in Kursk.

The area has emerged as a big battleground within the ongoing battle, underscoring each Ukraine’s resolve and the tough realities of warfare.

Since Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in August, each side have claimed important losses, with North Korean forces deployed to help Russian troops of their efforts in opposition to Kyiv’s advancing navy.

“They tried to do an assault with an organization group,” ABC Information quoted Shyriaiev as saying over a video name from his unit’s operations room near the entrance.

“We have been ready. We withdrew a bit and we created a minefield,” he recalled.

“And after the North Koreans hit these mines, my guys simply completed them off with weapons,” he added.

Within the following months, Pyongyang’s troops emerged because the “elite” assault drive in Russia’s marketing campaign to dislodge Ukrainian troopers in Kursk, in accordance with Shyriaiev. These fighters have been devoted to a mission removed from dwelling, going through brutal battlefield circumstances.

In response to ABC Information, for almost eight months, the Kremlin prioritised eradicating Ukrainian forces from Kursk, however Russian troops encountered important challenges, struggling heavy losses with minimal features.

To bolster their efforts, Russia sought help from North Korea, added the report.

“They don’t give up,” ABC Information quoted Shyriaiev as saying of Pyongyang’s troops.

“I don’t keep in mind any instances the place now we have been in a position to take them captive. We have now taken some who have been already wounded, however I believe they died from their wounds,” he added.

Now, with Ukraine holding onto a sliver of land in Kursk and peace efforts grinding alongside, Shyriaiev echoed Kyiv’s assertion that the operation was successful, although it led to Ukrainian retreat.

“They’ve misplaced plenty of personnel, each recoverable and irrecoverable losses,” he mentioned of Russian and North Korean forces.

“They’ve misplaced plenty of gear, plenty of their infrastructure has been broken, which signifies that they would wish to rebuild it. This additionally comes at a value. And this additionally weakens Russia,” he added.

Moscow’s success in driving Ukrainian forces from almost all of Kursk signaled its resolve. Throughout a March go to to the entrance, President Vladimir Putin mentioned, “Your process is to fully destroy the enemy,” emphasising the necessity to restore the earlier border standing.

North Korea’s involvement got here at a vital time, with President Donald Trump quickly to take workplace, promising a swift finish to the battle. Trump had hinted {that a} peace deal would possibly require Ukrainian concessions, framing Kyiv as a barrier to decision.

He claimed that “1000’s of Ukrainian troops” have been “fully surrounded” in Kursk, a characterisation Ukrainian leaders dismissed as false.

Maj. Shyriaiev crossed into Russia throughout a shock offensive in August 2024. He later mirrored on the operation, saying, “I’m proud that we have been the primary to truly deliver the struggle to Russian soil,” as his regiment captured almost 500 sq. miles of territory.

North Korean troops, roughly 10,000 sturdy, have been deployed to help Russia, marking a big escalation within the battle. Initially, these troopers engaged in poorly supported assaults, struggling heavy casualties because of their restricted coaching.

As one of many first Ukrainian models to push into Kursk, the 225th was additionally among the many first to come back up in opposition to North Korean troopers. The expertise gave Shyriaiev and his troops a uncommon degree of perception into Pyongyang’s forces, he mentioned.

Initially, North Korean troopers have been thrown into so-called “meat assaults,” Shyriaiev mentioned, a time period Ukrainian troops use to explain the poorly-supported and dear infantry wave assaults employed by Russian commanders all through the warfare.

The North Koreans have been guided solely by restricted coaching inside Russia and their nation’s expertise of World Conflict II- and Korean Conflict-era fight. “This expertise didn’t embody the usage of unmanned aerial autos, it didn’t embody any varieties of recent ways,” he mentioned.

That lack of expertise was mirrored in heavy casualties, although actual estimates differ. British intelligence assessed that by March roughly 5,000 of the 11,000 North Korean troops deployed to struggle Ukraine had been killed or wounded, with a 3rd doubtless killed.

Zelenskyy and Kyrylo Budanov – the pinnacle of Ukraine’s navy intelligence – each mentioned in February that North Korean troops had suffered about 4,000 casualties.

South Korea’s Nationwide Intelligence Service mentioned in March that North Korean forces had suffered round 5,000 casualties, in accordance with the Yonhap information company, South Korea’s state media.

Because the battle progressed, Shyriaiev famous that North Korean forces tailored their ways, conducting operations in smaller teams to cut back losses. He described them as well-prepared fighters, saying, “They’re good marksmen… They don’t depart their wounded behind.”

Regardless of the eventual Russian success in Kursk, Shyriaiev emphasised the necessity for Ukrainian forces to adapt, saying, “It’s completely attainable to struggle them if you’re ready.”

Reflecting on the warfare, Shyriaiev expressed no pity for the North Koreans.

“I don’t really feel pity in direction of anybody who’s waging warfare in opposition to my nation,” ABC Information quoted him as saying.

“It’s worthwhile to create obstacles for them. It’s worthwhile to create a minefield, and our guys should be assured sufficient to go in and end them after they’ve stepped on mines or have been hit by any kind of artillery rounds that are provided to us by our American companions,” he added.

South Korean intelligence indicated final 12 months that households of North Korean troops despatched to Russia had been remoted.  A former North Korean soldier instructed ABC Information he believes that few of Pyongyang’s forces had been captured whereas combating in opposition to Ukraine as a result of they’re instructed their households shall be executed if they’re caught alive.

“If the troopers are captured and inform info to the enemy, their households shall be punished, go to a political jail camp, or worse, they are going to be executed in entrance of the folks,” mentioned defector Pak Yusung.

Maj. Oleh Shyriaiev dismissed claims that North Korean troopers have been misled. “I don’t really feel pity in direction of anybody who’s waging warfare in opposition to my nation,” he mentioned. “North Koreans are enemies for me and they’re the enemies of my nation.”

He added, “It’s unimaginable that they simply don’t know the place they ended up. I don’t respect this adversary. This isn’t some sort of a match or ceremonial struggle between knights. This can be a warfare, a painful burden for our land, for our households.”

Maj. Oleh Shyriaiev believes the warfare will proceed regardless of US-led peace efforts.

“All of us are, in fact, craving for peace,” ABC Information quoted him as saying. “However when folks start to speak about lack of territories, it is a very painful, very delicate situation,” he added.

He suggested Ukrainians to view a ceasefire as an opportunity to “put together for the continuation of a struggle,” emphasising the necessity to stay vigilant. “We all know that Russia is a rustic that by no means, by no means retains its guarantees.”

Moscow has framed its invasion as a pre-emptive measure in opposition to perceived threats. Putin described the “particular navy operation” as essential for defence.

Whereas Trump’s administration urges Ukraine to cede land, Shyriaiev insists that the existential menace from Russia necessitates reclaiming all territory inside Ukraine’s 1991 borders, together with Crimea and Donbas.

“We have to always remember this expertise,” he mentioned. “We have to know that at any second, Russia can assault once more. And we should be ready.”

With inputs from businesses