CNN
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A group of North Korean soldiers have been spotted in Russia’s Kursk region, an area of ​​ongoing military operations, Ukrainian military intelligence said on Thursday.

After training in Russia’s far east, some troops have now made their way to the western Russia region, where Ukraine has maintained a strong position since the August invasion.

In a message on the official Telegram account, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Service said the troops were spotted in Kursk on Wednesday.

The intelligence agency said the approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia are receiving training at five military training grounds in the east.

This comes after CNN geolocated videos on social media showing troops arriving at the Sergeevka training ground, close to Russia’s border with China.

Thursday’s number, 12,000, is higher than previously indicated by U.S. officials. On Wednesday, John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, told reporters that at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers have arrived in eastern Russia this month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this Tuesday that Ukraine had intelligence about Russia “Training two military units from North Korea,” perhaps involving “two brigades of 6,000 men each.”

Ukrainian intelligence services said Thursday that “several weeks” have been set aside to coordinate North Korean forces, which include 500 officers and three generals.

Ukraine had repeatedly warned that warming relations between Russia and North Korea could lead Pyeongyang to play a more direct role in the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin did nothing to dispel this suspicion when questioned by journalists at the BRICS summit on Thursday, saying Russia is currently “in contact” with North Korea.

“We have never doubted that the North Korean leaders take our agreements seriously,” Putin said at the news conference in Kazan, Russia.

“But what and how we will do is our business,” he added.

Putin’s Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov is in charge of overseeing the troops’ training, Ukrainian intelligence said.

CNN had previously reported that North Korean recruits were filmed receiving equipment and uniforms at a training ground in Russia’s Far East.

The soldiers are said to have received ammunition, bedding, winter clothing and shoes and hygiene products from Russian authorities, Ukrainian intelligence reports.