North Korean Troops Spotted In Russia’s Kursk Region, Says Ukraine Intelligence

Ukraine’s military intelligence reported Thursday that a group of North Korean soldiers has been spotted in Russia’s Kursk region, bordering Ukraine and currently hosting active military operations.

According to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence, some of the North Korean troops, who were initially trained in Russia’s far east, have now been deployed to the west, where Ukrainian forces have maintained a presence since their August incursion.

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The intelligence service noted that the sighting took place Wednesday, with approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers currently stationed at five Russian training grounds in the eastern region.

Although the Kremlin had initially dismissed claims of North Korean troop involvement, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not deny the reports of their deployment at Thursday’s BRICS summit.

Last week, CNN geolocated social media footage showing military personnel arriving at the Sergeevka training ground near Russia’s border with China.

Ukrainian intelligence further reported that several weeks are planned for “coordination” efforts with these North Korean forces, which include 500 officers and three generals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Kyiv’s intelligence indicated Russia is training two North Korean military units, each potentially comprising 6,000 soldiers.

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He added that North Korean officers and technical personnel have been seen in occupied territories and suggested that Russia may be preparing a force to advance into Ukraine.

The reports have raised concerns among Ukraine’s allies, with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis warning that this deployment signals a “major escalation.” In an interview with CNN, Landsbergis emphasized that the conflict has taken on a global dimension, extending beyond regional and European boundaries.

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