Ukrainian intelligence: Russian forces assign an interpreter for every 30 North Korean soldiers

Intercepted military communications reveal the logistical challenges facing Russian officers as they scramble to integrate these foreign forces.

Oct 26, 2024 - 00:00

Ukrainian intelligence: Russian forces assign an interpreter for every 30 North Korean soldiers

A North Korean serviceman, illustrative image. Photo via Wikimedia.

Ukrainian military intelligence intercepted Russian military communications about preparations to receive North Korean units in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.

North Korea’s expanding military presence in Russia represents a significant escalation in the internationalization of the Russo-Ukrainian War, with newly intercepted communications revealing Russian preparations for additional North Korean units in Kursk Oblast. With approximately 12,000 North Korean troops already in Russia, this development not only violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions but also indicates a deepening military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang that could alter the dynamics of the war.

As reported by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, these conversations are related to soldiers of the 810th Independent Marine Brigade of the 18th Army of Russia’s Southern Military District, which is taking part in combat operations in the Kursk Oblast.

During these conversations, organizational issues were discussed related to the arrival of North Korean servicemen, tentatively called “Battalion K.”

“To organize interaction, the Russians plan to assign one interpreter and three Russian servicemen to every 30 DPRK servicemen. However, the Russians themselves express doubts about the possibility of providing the newly arrived occupants with Russian command staff,” Ukraine’s intelligence reveals.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the number of North Korean military personnel in Russia is already about 12,000, among them 500 officers, including three generals from Pyongyang.

Earlier on 25 October, South Korean intelligence noted that North Korea is planning to send more troops to Russia.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!