Ukraine’s defense minister says Ukrainian troops have engaged for the first time with North Korean units that were recently deployed to help Russia in the war with its neighbor

Summary

For the first time, Ukrainian forces have reportedly engaged North Korean troops recently deployed to support Russia in the ongoing war, marking a new phase in the conflict.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed “small-scale” fighting with North Korean units in Russia’s Kursk region, where about 12,000 North Korean soldiers are expected under a Russia-North Korea pact. This deployment signals a significant shift in global security dynamics, with East Asian troops now involved in a European conflict.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to make gains in eastern Ukraine, straining Ukrainian defenses and intensifying calls for faster Western military aid.