War in Ukraine. “The New York Times” about the counteroffensive of Russian forces in the Kursk Oblast. Analysis

According to US intelligence assessment,Russia is making a significant buildup of forces without withdrawing troops from the east Ukrainewhich is her priority. This allows the Russian army to conduct an offensive on many fronts at the same time.

In the Kursk Oblast – writes “The New York Times” – Russia has concentrated 50,000 soldiers. Ukraine expects that in the coming days there will be a major counteroffensive by combined Russian and North Korean forces, writes “The New York Times” in its Sunday publication, citing sources.

Russian troops recaptured part of the territory of the Kursk Oblast, which had been occupied by Ukrainians this year. They have attacked Ukrainian forces' positions with missiles and artillery, but have not launched a major offensive there yet, US officials say, The New York Times reports, emphasizing that Ukrainian officials expect an attack by Russian and North Korean troops in the coming days.

The North Koreans are currently training with Russian soldiers in the westernmost part of the Kursk region – writes “The New York Times”.

Earlier, the authorities in Kiev reported that Kim's soldiers were already fighting against Ukrainians in the border region. The American magazine “Forbes” described in turn one of the heaviest clashes between Russian and Korean forces against the Ukrainian armyas a result of which the Russian 810th Marine Brigade was to suffer heavy losses.

READ also: Pentagon on North Korean soldiers. “We are concerned”

North Korea sent over 10,000 soldiers to fight in the Kursk Oblast. They wear Russian uniforms, but will probably fight with their own units. The Koreans were armed with Russian machine guns and sniper guns, anti-tank rockets and grenade launchers.

Russia is training North Korean soldiers in artillery fire, basic infantry tactics and, most importantly, clearing trenches, which could mean that at least some North Korean forces will launch frontal attacks on Ukrainian defensive positions, The New York Times notes.

According to the Ukrainian interlocutors of the American daily, the North Korean forces (in the Kursk Oblast) were divided into two groups: assault subunits and support subunits, which are to help secure the areas retaken from the Ukrainians.

READ also: Putin sealed a military alliance with North Korea

North Korea has a large army, but unlike Russia, it has not engaged in ground combat for decades. The troops transferred to the Kursk region are considered the best in the North Korean army and come from the 11th Assault Corps – emphasizes “The New York Times”. According to this newspaper, if Russia is successful in the offensive in the Kursk Oblast, it may not stop at its own border, but try to push Ukrainian troops even further into Ukraine.

According to American sources, it is still unclear whether the North Korean regime will allow its soldiers to conduct long-term operations in Ukraine or whether they will be intended only for the counteroffensive in the Kursk Oblast. Some US officials believe that North Korea it could order its soldiers to stay on the border while Russian troops advance deeper into Ukraine.

George Barros, an analyst from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), quoted by The New York Times, stated that despite their lack of experience, North Korean soldiers are well organized. – What they can really be better at than the Russians is cohesion and discipline – he said.

Rob Lee, a Russian military analyst at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia, said that “thousands of additional infantrymen from North Korea could change the situation.” – These soldiers are younger and in better physical condition than many Russian contract soldiers – he said.