Russian military correspondents reported that North Korean special operations forces (SOF) units have engaged in combat with the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) for the first time in the Kursk region. According to sources, North Korean troops have taken control of the village of Plekhovo, demonstrating high efficiency and combat training.

Politician Oleg Tsarev confirmed this information, adding that North Korean fighters call their units not special forces, but reconnaissance battalions.

"I confirm. Everything is so. Our friends have once again proven themselves. Only they don't call themselves special forces, but reconnaissance battalions. They are armed only with light weapons," — Tsarev noted.

According to Tsarev, North Korean military personnel are operating in the border zone in coordination with Russian units, providing support in the most tense areas of the front.

The United States, the European Union and the United Nations have previously expressed concern about possible military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, particularly in the context of alleged arms and ammunition supplies from the DPRK and the sending of troops to Russian territory.

The Ukrainian side has not yet commented on reports of North Korean fighters in the combat zone.

It should be noted that there have been no official statements from Russia on this matter yet, which does not exclude the possibility that the information disseminated by Tsarev is unreliable, which has already been observed many times before.

In 2024, the Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted an operation in the Kursk region of Russia. Strikes were made against military facilities and infrastructure, and local clashes were recorded in border areas. The operation became part of a strategy to weaken Russian positions and caused retaliatory measures from the Russian army.