North Korea’s 11th Army Corps made its first major push into battle last weekend in Ukraine’s Kursk Oblast, but was met with heavy Ukrainian firepower. The assault ended in defeat for all but one of the waves, resulting in an estimated 200 North Korean casualties out of a total force of around 12,000.
The successful attack came after two initial attempts were repelled, and it took a third wave of attackers to breach the defenses of a Ukrainian garrison in Plekhove. However, the Ukrainian retreat from this village was calculated, putting a natural barrier between the attacking forces and the main Ukrainian unit in the area.
Ukrainian forces have been firing at the North Koreans and Russians with abandon, making it difficult for them to approach the Psel River or establish a bridgehead. The failed attacks have added to Russia and North Korea’s growing losses, with some estimates suggesting that 4% of the 11th Army Corps’ manpower may have been lost in just its first weekend of fighting.
The Ukrainians are now facing a challenge in defending their remaining ground in Kursk, as the loss of territory can be costly. With little terrain to use for defensive positions and sparse space to maneuver, Ukrainian tactics must be highly effective if they hope to hold onto what they have.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/12/19/falling-back-under-north-korean-assault-a-ukrainian-brigade-turned-a-river-into-a-natural-barrier