Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists. Read more below. *** Russia The battlefield situation remains difficult for Ukraine, with Russia gradually advancing toward major logistical hubs in the Donbas. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is losing momentum, with Russia recapturing up to 600 square kilometers worth of territory, albeit with heavy manpower and equipment losses. The surprise deployment of some North Korean troops in Kursk has put Ukrainian soldiers at an even greater disadvantage. By some reports, going forward, the number of North Korean forces aiding Russia’s