North Korean Troops Withdrawn from Ukraine Frontline; Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Refineries

North Korean Troops Reportedly Withdrawn from Ukraine Frontline

Ukrainian military officials have reported that North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in the war against Ukraine have been withdrawn from the frontline in Kursk. Special Operations Forces spokesman Oleksandr Kindratenko stated that Ukrainian forces have not observed any activity or clashes involving North Korean soldiers in the past three weeks.

This withdrawal is believed to be a consequence of the heavy losses suffered by the North Korean contingent. The deployment, which was never officially confirmed by either Russia or North Korea, came after Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in Kursk in August.

The news follows claims by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late December that two injured North Korean soldiers were captured in the Kursk region and transported to Kyiv. Additionally, Mr. Zelenskyy reported that several seriously wounded North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine later died. Ukrainian officials have also alleged that wounded North Korean troops have resorted to detonating grenades to avoid capture.

The initial deployment of North Korean soldiers to Russia in October to support Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine was estimated to involve around 11,000 troops, according to Ukrainian and Western analysts. The Kremlin has declined to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's military has reported that its drones struck a major oil refinery in Russia's Volgograd region, causing explosions and a fire. The military stated that it will continue targeting Russia's strategic infrastructure to hinder Moscow's ability to sustain its war in Ukraine. This follows a Ukrainian drone attack last week that forced a refinery in Ryazan, southeast of Moscow, to suspend operations.