Ukraine details North Korean casualties in Russia's Kursk region

Ukraine is reporting at least 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded over the weekend around several villages on the front in Russia's Kursk region.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Russia is using North Korean troops to fight against Ukrainian forces around three villages in Kursk, where Russia has been trying to quash a Ukrainian incursion since August. A public post from Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, also known as GUR, on the messaging app Telegram confirmed Kursk as the site of the North Korean casualties.

The GUR also said at least three North Korean service members went missing in a fourth village.

This marks the first time Kyiv has detailed North Korean casualties since the Pentagon and Ukraine announced Pyongyang had sent about 10,000 troops to assist Russia in the ongoing war. The GUR said the casualties occurred around the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba and Martynovka in the Kursk region, but did not provide details.

Russia has not responded to comment on the casualties, according to The Associated Press, which said it could not independently verify the claims.

"Due to the losses, the assault groups are being replenished with fresh personnel, in particular from the 94th separate brigade of the DPRK army, to continue active combat operations in Kursk region," the GUR wrote.

Ukraine’s presence in the Kursk region marks the first occupation of Russian territory since World War II. Kyiv reported North Korean forces in the region back in October and later reported unspecified clashes and casualties.

The Associated Press contributed.

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