Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that Ukraine’s military incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is holding back 50,000 Russian troops. In his daily national address, Zelensky stated that this operation is significantly diminishing Moscow’s capacity to launch attacks within Ukraine.
Strategic Gains in Kursk Limiting Russian Offensives
Zelensky emphasized that reducing Russia’s offensive power remains a core objective of Ukraine’s campaign in Kursk, even as some Western allies express doubts. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War noted that Russia initially had around 11,000 soldiers in Kursk when Ukraine began its surprise incursion in early August. However, reports from the New York Times suggest that Russia has since reinforced its positions in Kursk without withdrawing forces from Ukraine.
These reinforcements reportedly include North Korean soldiers fighting as part of Russia’s defensive strategy. Zelensky confirmed he had received briefings from top military commanders on the ongoing situation in Kursk, where Ukrainian forces are actively blocking the Russian military.
“Our forces have immobilized 50,000 enemy soldiers,” Zelensky said. “Because of our operation in Kursk, the invaders cannot conduct further offensives on Ukrainian soil.”
Ukrainian Army Commander Oleksandr Syrskiy added that without Ukraine’s presence in Kursk, tens of thousands of enemy troops would have been redeployed to assault positions in Donetsk, a conflict zone under Russian aggression for over a decade.
Both Ukraine and the U.S. estimate that more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia, but Moscow has neither confirmed nor denied these claims. Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reported to have ratified a defense treaty with Russia, reinforcing military ties that have deepened since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
The United States has repeatedly accused North Korea of supplying Russia with weapons, including ballistic missiles and rocket launchers. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also alleged that Pyongyang is receiving advanced military technology and other support from Moscow, aiding North Korea in circumventing international sanctions.
