Ukraine's HUR military spy agency said on Monday that North Korean units fighting for Russia sustained losses of at least 30 soldiers killed or wounded around several villages on the front in Russia's Kursk region over the weekend.

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.

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