North Korean soldiers have gone toe-to-toe with Ukrainian forces in Kursk in recent months, galvanizing global attention on the threat of the burgeoning DPRK-Russia military alliance.

But the most immediate impact of Pyongyang’s entry into European conflict may be that it sparked a shadow war.

Ukrainian officials initially ridiculed North Korean military tactics but have pivoted to emphasizing the threat of highly skilled DPRK soldiers. Russia has refused to comment on the troop deployment, even as pro-Kremlin bloggers have hailed the North Koreans’ bravery.

All the while fake posts about DPRK soldiers have proliferated on Telegram, often of uncertain origin,