North Korean soldiers join Russian offensive in Sumy region
The Russians, alongside North Korean soldiers, decided to continue their attack after the Ukrainians withdrew from the Kursk region, leading to an incursion into the Ukrainian Sumy region. Here's what the North Koreans have at their disposal and how the Ukrainians are defending themselves.
According to the portal Militarnyj, Ukrainian soldiers from the 36th Independent Marine Brigade in the vicinity of the village of Basivka in the Sumy region successfully eliminated a group of Russian and North Korean assault soldiers moving on buggies and quads.
Vehicles of this type, similar to motorcycles and modified Ladas or Moskviches, are increasingly being used by Russians due to a shortage of infantry fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, or even MRAPs. This is especially true for exploitation units involved in "meat assaults."
Fanaticism and good equipment from Russia
Kim Jong Un reportedly provided Russia with at least 12,000 soldiers to assist in retaking the part of the Kursk region occupied by Ukrainians. Ukrainian reports estimated that at least one-third of the North Korean soldiers were killed, went missing, or were wounded.
These losses resulted from the initial tactic of mass infantry charges not seen in Europe since the world wars. However, over time, the North Korean soldiers adopted the Russian tactic of small assault groups.
It's also worth emphasizing that soldiers from North Korea are highly motivated and trained in firearms use, posing a significant threat if they approach Ukrainian trenches. The Russians also appear to be equipping the North Koreans with advanced gear, such as AK-12 rifles and thermal sights.
Drones and artillery — the only solution to masses of Russians and North Koreans
Against such large numbers of infantry, the best option is to use drones, especially at night. These can be bombing drones like the "Baba Yaga," one-time FPV constructs, or FPV drones in a bombing variant equipped with firearms with a range of over 10 kilometres. Additionally, the presence of artillery equipped with cluster munitions for area effect and shells with fuzes that explode in the air is valuable.
An example is the M864 155 mm artillery shell, which contains many small bomblets. Some are designed to penetrate the upper armour of vehicles, while others have a fragmentation effect, creating a blast area of several metres radius. One such shell can create a threat area of over 100 square metres.
Also useful are mortars and automatic grenade launchers if their crews are in constant contact with a reconnaissance drone, allowing for precise indirect fire. Particularly effective are shells that explode at about 9 metres, scattering thousands of fragments over a large area.
