Thu Dec 19 11:45:56 UTC 2024: ## Ukraine Claims Heavy Losses for North Korean Mercenaries Fighting for Russia
**Kyiv, Ukraine** – Ukraine’s military is reporting significant casualties among North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces, marking a dramatic escalation of the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops, stating that “a significant number” are engaged in combat.
Intelligence reports indicate that these soldiers, integrated with elite Russian units near the Kursk region, suffered heavy losses in their first engagements. Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR) estimates combined Russian and North Korean losses of around 200 on the first day, a figure Al Jazeera has not independently verified. Reports from various Ukrainian units, including the “Birds of Magyar” Marine Corps and Special Forces units, detail engagements resulting in dozens of North Korean deaths and injuries. Videos and images purportedly showing the aftermath of these battles have been circulated online. The language barrier and unfamiliar tactics are cited as contributing factors to these losses.
Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s alleged attempts to conceal the scale of North Korean casualties, describing the reported burning of the soldiers’ faces as “mockery”. He added, “There is no reason for Koreans to fight and die for Putin.”
Beyond the fighting involving North Korean mercenaries, Ukraine reported significant successes in other operations:
* **Sabotage and Assassination:** Ukrainian forces claim responsibility for burning a Russian Su-30 fighter jet, damaging a fuel facility, and destroying three locomotives used to transport military equipment. Two high-profile assassinations – that of General Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s radiation, chemical and biological protection troops, and leading military scientist Mikhail Shatsky – were also reported by Ukrainian authorities.
* **Reduced Russian Air Strikes:** Ukraine credits its recent use of long-range ATACMS missiles, authorized by US President Joe Biden, with forcing Russia to relocate its aircraft further from the front lines, significantly reducing the number of glide bomb attacks. This claim is supported by a sharp decline in the number of glide bomb strikes reported by Ukrainian military sources, though former US President Donald Trump criticized the ATACMS decision.
* **Continued Russian Offensive:** Despite Ukrainian gains, Russia continues its offensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin reported the “liberation” of 189 settlements, and Russia launched a massive aerial attack on Friday, targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy appealed for increased air defense systems to counter such attacks.
The conflict continues with no signs of immediate resolution, despite calls from Zelenskyy for a genuine peace agreement. Neither Russia nor North Korea has publicly commented on the reported casualties among North Korean mercenaries.
First Piper 