Ukraine’s military intelligence service (GUR) announced Thursday that the first units of North Korean soldiers, trained in Russia, have been deployed in Russia’s Kursk region, a Russian border region where Ukrainian forces have invaded.

GUR stressed that about 12,000 North Korean soldiers, including 500 officers and three generals, were already in Russia and training was taking place at five military bases.

“Moscow has appointed Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov in charge of monitoring the training and adaptation of North Korean troops,” the statement said.

The US and NATO yesterday for the first time said they were confident of the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia, after weeks of warnings from Kiev and Seoul.

The announcement of Kiev

‼ 50 meters of toilet paper and 300 grams of soap – how Russia prepares North Korean troops for war against Ukraine

The first military units from the DPRK, which were trained in the training grounds of eastern Russia, have already arrived in the combat zone of the Russian-Ukrainian war – in particular, on October 23, 2024, their appearance was recorded in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.

The training of the soldiers of the army of the DPRK who have arrived in Russia is carried out in five military training fields located in the east of the attacking state – “Baranovsky” (Ussuriysk), “Donguz” (Ulan-Ude), “Yekaterinoslavsky” (Yekaterinslavka), 248th (Knyazye-Volkonskoye) and 249th (Sergeyevka).

Several weeks are allocated to the coordination of the military from North Korea, which Russia intends to use in the war against Ukraine.

According to the estimates of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the number of North Korean soldiers transferred to Russia is now about 12,000 people, including 500 officers, including three Pyongyang generals.

Moscow appointed Deputy Defense Minister of the Russian Federation Yunus-Bek Yevkurov to be responsible for monitoring the training and adaptation of the DPRK troops.

The soldiers sent from Pyongyang are equipped with ammunition, bedding, winter clothes and shoes, as well as hygiene items. Specifically, Moscow will provide 50 meters of toilet paper and 300 grams of soap per month to each North Korean, according to established standards.

The Kremlin has high hopes for the North Korean component in the war against Ukraine and the global confrontation with the West.”