North Korean technical advisers have reportedly arrived in Mariupol, a southern port city under Russian occupation, while troops from the hermit kingdom have been observed in the eastern Kharkiv region, according to Ukrainian sources.
A Ukrainian security source told CNN that the North Koreans in Mariupol were wearing Russian military uniforms, but their exact mission remains unclear. Their presence marks an expanded role for Russia’s allies along the front line. Unlike other foreign fighters integrated into Russian units, the North Koreans reportedly operate independently, with their own living quarters, food, music, and films.
The same source noted that recent Ukrainian missile strikes inside Russian territory had targeted a senior North Korean general, but it remains unclear whether the commander was killed in the attacks.
In Kharkiv, Ukrainian military officials confirmed the presence of North Korean troops. Yevhen Romanov, a spokesperson for a coalition of military units in the region, stated that intercepted radio communications revealed the units’ arrival.
"I can confirm to you that, according to radio intercepts, North Korean units have been spotted in the Kharkiv region," Romanov said.
Nazariy Kishak, commander of the 153rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, shared additional insights, stating that the North Koreans were organizing into units and bolstering combat formations near the front lines. "They are waiting for worse weather, because for the enemy, this is the best time to start assault operations," Kishak told Ukrainian media.