If Russian efforts in the Kursk region become more significant, they could push Ukrainian armed forces out of Russian territory by spring. This is what Bloomberg writes, citing US officials.
It is noted that the Ukrainian armed forces are already facing a manpower shortage and uncertainty about future arms supplies from the US and other allies. Meanwhile, in the Kursk region, Ukrainian troops are opposed not only by Russians, but also by North Korean soldiers, who in Russia total about 12 thousand.
American officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed the opinion that “with more targeted efforts from Moscow“ in January, Ukrainian forces “will only be able to hold the area until spring before being forced to withdraw.”
If Russian forces launch an effective counteroffensive in Kursk, they will likely target key roads and towns to force the Ukrainians to withdraw and could send in additional North Korean troops, one U.S. official said. North Korea could contribute about 8,000 more troops to bolster Russia’s efforts by spring.
Bloomberg reported that Ukrainian officials had previously expressed hopes of using the Kursk region as a bargaining chip in peace talks.
However, another U.S. official suggested that the Ukrainian military’s incursion into the Kursk region was not intended to hold it until talks, but rather to shock the Russians and destroy as many Russian forces as possible. Thus, even if the Ukrainian armed forces retreat to their own territory, the Kursk operation can still be considered a tactical success.
By advancing towards Kursk, the Ukrainians demonstrated that the war is not a hopeless stalemate, but is in fact quite dynamic. Kiev has shown its allies that it is still worth supporting to further undermine Russian military and economic resources.
North Korean units are suffering a high number of casualties on the front lines in the war between Russia and Ukraine, with about a thousand North Korean soldiers killed or wounded in the last week alone in the Kursk region of Russia, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, as quoted by Reuters.