24 February 2025. Today, there are a lot of interesting updates from the Kursk direction in Russia.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
Here, scattered Russian and North Korean remnants remain under a grueling siege in Nikolskii, with no way for Russians to resupply them. As Ukrainians were busy making sure no additional supplies would reach the beleaguered forces, North Koreans decided to make a run for it, ending in disaster as Ukrainians unleashed their drones to hunt everyone down.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
As you remember from the previous report, remnants of the last North Korean assault had taken up positions in parts of Nikolskii but found themselves cut off from supplies due to complete Ukrainian fire control over the Russian ground lines of communication into the settlement.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
Russian attempts to break the Nikolskii siege fail
In an attempt to lift the siege on the North Korean soldiers, Russian marines launched a large, failed mechanized assault over the frozen fields, trying to resupply their cut-off allies, as the survivors of this assault only put a larger drain on the already limited supplies in Nikolskii.
The main goal of the Ukrainian forces is to wear down the North Korean forces in Nikolskii and completely starve them of food, water, and ammunition while not allowing Russians to resupply them. This is the most efficient approach for the Ukrainians as they can wear down the North Korean forces over time without sacrificing valuable manpower and equipment to clear them out of the settlement. Ukrainians have the advantage of time, as the North Koreans, in their current predicament, pose no threat at all to Ukrainian positions and the overall defensibility of the Northern Kursk salient.
To maintain their advantage, Ukrainians reinforced their defenses by supplying their firing positions with sufficient anti-tank guided missiles, drones, and general infantry equipment. Furthermore, Ukrainians had to ensure that no additional supplies would reach the enemy in Nikolskii and intensified their targeting of Russian rear positions and supply lines. If Ukrainians can interdict enough Russian supplies moving to the frontline, Ukrainians would suffer a much lesser risk of Russians launching another resupply mission, as Russians would start suffering shortages themselves.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
Ukrainian drones eliminate supply routes and abandoned vehicles
However, geolocated combat footage published by Ukrainian drone operators reveals how Ukrainians first targeted the abandoned Russian vehicles still left scattered in the field after the last failed assault. These vehicles were filled to the brim with ammunition, food, water, and medical supplies, meaning that leaving them unexploded would risk those falling into the besieged North Koreans’ hands.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
As the Russian and North Korean soldiers in Nikolskii were becoming increasingly desperate, Ukrainians decided to make sure these vehicles were completely burnt down, along with all the provisions they might have been carrying in them.
Failed escape attempts end in destruction
Next, Ukrainian Special Forces Operators showed their proficiency in conducting drone operations, as geolocated footage shows their drones laying in wait beside frequently used Russian supply roads for any Russian vehicle that might be passing by. This tactic saves the drone’s battery, increasing the chance of conducting a successful strike, as the drone operators can even have multiple FPV drones laying in wait at the same time, taking control of them one by one as Russian vehicles move along the road.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
After two weeks without any resupply, some Russian and North Korean soldiers had run out of snow to eat and decided to try and make a run for it across the fields, desperate to escape the besieged settlement. Geolocated footage shows several groups of North Korean and Russian soldiers moving out of the settlement, hoping that small groups would avoid detection by the Ukrainians. Unfortunately for the Russians and North Koreans, they could not afford to wait for bad weather to hamper Ukrainian drone observation, as all of these groups were quickly detected and taken out by swarms of FPV drones.
Ukraine reinforces its battlefield advantage
Overall, the Ukrainians effectively maintained their defensive advantage while denying any more Russian resupply missions into Nikolskii.
- Screenshot from Reporting From Ukraine’s video.
Any groups of soldiers that attempted to escape were promptly eliminated, dissuading any more soldiers from leaving the settlement as well. In the end, it matters little if the remaining Russians and North Koreans decide to escape or wait, as they increasingly become underfed, undersupplied, undermanned, and sick to the point where they won’t be able to resist any coordinated Ukrainian counterattack, while Ukrainians will have no problem waiting just a little bit more.
In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Related:
- North Korea provides 50% of Russia’s ammunition, says Ukraine’s spymaster
- Frontline report: Ukraine’s ambush crushes Russians racing to save North Koreans trapped without supplies in Kursk
- North Korean troops return to Kursk using new tactics and guided missiles
- North Korean propaganda claimed South Koreans operate Ukrainian drones, POWs disclose
- North Korea gains combat experience, improves weapons through Russian war, Ukrainian intel says
- Captured North Korean soldier in Ukraine requests asylum in South Korea
- Ukraine destroys first North Korean-supplied Koksan howitzer – 199 to go (video)
- Syrskyi: Ukraine holds 500 km² of Russian territory in Kursk Oblast
