⚔️ Counterattack

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces repelled a North Korean infantry assault in Kursk Oblast that lasted from morning until night.

January 13, 2025 Sudzha, Kursk Oblast

Verified Independently confirmed by 5 sources

Institute for the Study of War Kyiv Independent Kyiv Post UNIAN Censor.NET

Multiple high-reliability sources confirm the core facts of this event.

Entities

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (military_unit) North Korean soldiers (military_unit) Ukrainian Armed Forces (military_unit) Special Operations Forces of Ukraine (military_unit) Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (military_unit) North Korean troops (military_unit) North Korean fighter (person) Ukrainian mopping-up group (military_unit) Russian troops (military_unit) Ukrainian forces (military_unit) Russian drones (weapon_system) North Korean Tor SAM system (weapon_system) North Korean surface-to-air missile system (weapon_system) Kursk region (location) Special Operations Forces (SSO) (military_unit) 6th SSO regiment (military_unit) DPRK troops (military_unit) Russian occupants (military_unit) Denys Popovych (person) Ukrainian army (organization) 6th Special Operations Forces Regiment (military_unit) North Korean soldier (person) North Korean air defense system (weapon_system) Russian occupying forces (military_unit) Ukrainian Defense Forces (military_unit) Pongae M-2020 (weapon_system) Tor-M2 (weapon_system) Armed Forces of Ukraine General Staff (organization) Russian Armed Forces (military_unit)

Source Reports

What each source reports. "Source tone" reflects the language used by the outlet — it is not an independent verification.

Institute for the Study of War → Source tone: likely

Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported on January 13 that they recently repelled a North Korean infantry assault in Kursk Oblast that lasted from morning until night.

Kyiv Independent → Source tone: certain

Video released on the same day by Ukraine's Special Operations Forces, showing Ukrainian soldiers storming positions manned by North Korean soldiers.

Kyiv Post → Source tone: certain

Russian drones destroyed a North Korean surface-to-air missile system radar in the Kursk region.

UNIAN → Source tone: likely

Russian occupants will attempt to push Ukrainian Armed Forces out of Kursk Oblast and then launch an offensive toward Sumy Oblast

UNIAN → Source tone: uncertain

At least in February and beyond, battles in Kursk Oblast may continue

UNIAN → Source tone: likely

About 60,000 enemy soldiers are concentrated in Kursk Oblast

Censor.NET → Source tone: certain

17 in Kursk region - AFU General Staff.

Share This Event

Twitter / X Threads Reddit Facebook Telegram WhatsApp Tumblr LinkedIn

Know another source?

If you've seen this event covered by another news outlet, submit it for editorial review. Approved sources improve our confidence ratings.

This event is already verified. Additional sources further strengthen the record.

Extraction metadata

Extracted: 2026-05-30T04:15:38.981Z

Source story: russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-13-2025