North Korean troops have played a pivotal role in Russia’s recent advances against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, Kyiv has assessed, a move aimed at cutting off logistical supplies and isolating Ukrainian soldiers.

DPRK units’ participation in the latest Russian counteroffensive comes after Pyongyang reportedly deployed thousands more soldiers to the region to reinforce its troops after suffering casualties.

“The situation in the Sumy and Kursk regions is difficult,” Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, said in a video on Sunday.

“[North] Korean troops are storming actively, advancing