**North Korean Soldiers Back in Kursk Oblast**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 7 that Russian forces had brought North Korean soldiers back into the battle-scarred region of Kursk Oblast.
The news came after a day of fighting, with Russian media claiming Ukraine had launched a new offensive in the area. However, Ukrainian officials disputed this claim.
Zelensky said that hundreds of Russian and North Korean servicemen were killed or wounded in the recent clashes. This number could not be verified by The Kyiv Independent.
**North Korean Troops Still Present**
Ukraine’s spy chief, Kyrylo Budanov, denied reports that all North Korean soldiers had been withdrawn from Kursk Oblast. He said that while their numbers have decreased, some remain in the area.
Budanov also revealed that around 8,000 North Korean soldiers were fighting against Ukraine in Kursk Oblast as of early February.
**Russia’s Justice Ministry Declares Ukrainian Organization Undesirable**
On Feb. 7, Russia’s Justice Ministry declared the Register of Damage Caused by Russian Aggression against Ukraine an “undesirable organization”.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, called this decision part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s armed forces.
**Other Developments**
In other news, Ukraine’s presidential administration head, Andriy Yermak, said that Ukrainian officials would present their position on ending the war and achieving a “lasting and sustainable peace” at an upcoming meeting in Ramstein.
The U.S. Justice Department also announced plans to shut down a program that sanctioned Kremlin-linked oligarchs.