Kiev says North Korean troops have been spotted in the Russia-Ukraine border area

(CNN)– Ukraine’s military intelligence service announced Thursday that a group of North Korean soldiers was spotted in Russia’s Kursk region, an area of ​​ongoing military operations.

After training in eastern Russia, some troops have now moved to western Russia, where Ukraine has maintained a strong presence since launching an incursion in August.

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence said in a post on its official Telegram account that the soldiers were seen in Kursk on Wednesday.

The intelligence service said about 12,000 North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia are receiving training at five military training camps in the east.

It comes after CNN posted geolocated video on social media showing troops arriving at the Sergeevka training camp near Russia’s border with China.

The figure of 12,000 North Korean troops announced Thursday is much larger than previously announced by US officials. On Wednesday, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that at least 3,000 North Korean troops arrived in eastern Russia this month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Ukraine had intelligence that Russia was “training two North Korean military units” that would probably include “two brigades of 6,000 people each.”

Ukrainian intelligence services indicated this Thursday that “several weeks” were allocated for the coordination of the North Korean army, which includes 500 officers and three generals.

Ukraine has repeatedly warned that warming relations between Russia and North Korea could lead to Pyongyang playing a more direct role in the war in Ukraine.

Asked by reporters at the BRICS summit on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin did nothing to dispel these doubts, instead confirming that Russia is currently “in contact” with North Korea.

“We never doubted that the North Korean leadership takes our agreements seriously,” Putin said at a news conference in Kazan, Russia.

“But what and how we will do is our matter,” he said.

The Ukrainian intelligence service said Putin’s deputy defense minister, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, was tasked with overseeing the army’s training.

CNN previously reported that North Korean recruits were filmed receiving equipment and uniforms at a training camp in Russia’s eastern region.

The Ukrainian intelligence service said the soldiers were believed to have received ammunition, bedding, winter clothing and footwear, and hygiene products from Russian authorities.