"We see them now in Kursk Oblast only, and our brave defenders were not only able to kill a lot of them, but also keep the positions."Markarova's statement come immediately after comments made by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 14 that a "significant number" of North Korean soldiers have begun fighting alongside Russian forces in assault operations in Kursk Oblast."We already have preliminary data that the Russians have begun to use North Korean soldiers in their assaults — a significant number of them," Zelensky said in a video address.Ukrainian and Western officials in fall 2024 warned that over 10,000 North Korean troops had amassed in Kursk Oblast, ready to aid Russia's attempt to oust Ukrainian forces in the region. The move represents an unprecedented escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine.The first clashes between North Korean and Ukrainian troops in Kursk Oblast were reported in early November.