At least 30 North Korean troops, deployed to bolster Russian forces in their war on Ukraine, have been killed or wounded in Russia’s Kursk region, Ukrainian authorities said Monday, marking a significant turning point after months of speculation over what role Pyongyang’s troops might play in the war.

Ukraine claimed over the weekend that North Korean troops accidentally shot at Russian vehicles in a "friendly fire" incident that left eight dead.

North Korean soldiers have accidentally killed eight Russian troops after a misunderstanding caused by the language barrier, according to Ukrainian intelligence .