Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed during his regular address that Russia has begun deploying a “substantial number” of North Korean troops to push Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region. Zelenskyy also disclosed that Russia is integrating these North Korean units into its military structure for operational purposes.
Zelenskyy emphasized that the use of North Korean troops by Russia has intensified tensions in the ongoing conflict and stressed Ukraine’s resolve to counter any threats arising from this development. He plans to attend the upcoming NATO and European Union leadership summit in Brussels to request increased support from Western allies.
LIGAnet cited Andriy Kovalenco, who heads the Disinformation Response Center under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. Kovalenko reported that North Korean soldiers, dressed in Russian military uniforms, are actively engaged in combat operations in the Kursk region. He described these troops as infantry trained with Soviet-era weaponry and claimed that they had already sustained casualties. Intelligence estimates suggest that over 11,000 North Korean troops are currently deployed in the Kursk area.
Zelenskyy’s statements are seen as an indication of Russia’s expanding use of North Korean military personnel. Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence reported a friendly fire incident resulting in the deaths of eight Russian soldiers at the hands of North Korean troops. The intelligence agency suggested that language barriers may have contributed to this incident. It noted that special measures, including the confiscation and monitoring of Russian soldiers’ mobile phones, have been implemented in areas where North Korean forces are present.
Kyiv Post stated it could not independently verify the agency’s claims. Zelenskyy affirmed that North Korean troops have begun to incur significant losses. However, he did not provide specific casualty figures.
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