Volodymyr Zelenskyy has alleged that North Korean troops are being used as human shields to counter Ukrainian offensives. Pyongyang has deployed a contingent of at least 11,000 troops to Russia, most of whom are fighting in the Russian region of Kursk,

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Russia's Kursk region and warned that Pyongyang could send more personnel and equipment for Moscow's army.

North Korean soldiers considered by Russia to be "expendable" are carrying out massed, dismounted assaults against Ukrainian positions which he said "haven't really been all that effective", the White House National Security Council spokesperson has said.