Russia may send North Korean soldiers, who attempted to flee their positions in Kursk, into assaults.

18 North Korean soldiers who attempted to escape from positions in the Kursk region were detained by Russians in the Komaritsky district of the Bryansk region. They may now be utilized in assault operations against the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

This information was reported to RBK-Ukraine by sources within the special services.

It is noted that approximately 40 military instructors from North Korea, along with around fifty Russian occupiers, were stationed in the forest area near Kolyachek in the Khomutovsky district of the Kursk region.

It has been established that the North Koreans were training Russian Armed Forces personnel in the use of balloons for military purposes. Meanwhile, the Russians were instructing North Korean representatives in modern infantry combat, drawing on the experience from the so-called "SVO."

After the training course concluded, the North Korean soldiers were left in the forest area near Kolyachek in the Khomutovsky district for several days without food and without any guidance on further plans or intentions. On October 14, a portion of the North Koreans decided to leave their positions in search of the Russian Armed Forces command.

Two days later, on October 16, the missing soldiers were found and detained by Russian occupiers. The distance from the escape site was approximately 60 kilometers.

According to sources, all 40 North Korean soldiers who were positioned in the Khomutovsky district have been relocated to the Lgovsky district of the Kursk region for further involvement in assault operations in the Kursk area.

As a reminder, earlier the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kirill Budanov told the media that by November 1, 2024, around 11,000 North Korean military personnel will be ready to fight in Ukraine.

According to him, the first contingent of 2,600 North Korean soldiers will be sent to the Kursk region. The destination for the rest remains unclear.

From the latest information, it is known that North Korean soldiers are undergoing training in the Far East of Russia. They are being issued Russian military uniforms.

As stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, such actions effectively mean the inclusion of North Korea in the war against Ukraine.