CNN
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A group of North Korean soldiers have been spotted in Russia’s Kursk region, an area where military operations are currently taking place, Ukraine’s military intelligence said on Thursday.

After training in Russia’s Far East, some troops have now headed to Russia’s western region, where Ukraine has maintained a strong position since it began its invasion in August.

In a post on its official Telegram account, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Agency said the troops were spotted in Kursk on Wednesday.

According to the secret service, the approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers sent to Russia are being trained at five military training areas in the east.

This came after CNN geolocated social media videos showing troops arriving at the Sergeevka military training area near Russia’s border with China.

Thursday’s figure of 12,000 is higher than previously reported by U.S. officials. On Wednesday, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers had arrived in eastern Russia this month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this Tuesday that Ukraine had information about Russia “Training two military units from North Korea,” including perhaps “two brigades of 6,000 men each.”

Ukrainian intelligence said on Thursday that “several weeks” were set aside for coordinating North Korean troops, which include 500 officers and three generals.

Ukraine had repeatedly warned that warming relations between Russia and North Korea could lead to Pyongyang taking a more direct role in the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin did nothing to dispel those suspicions when questioned by journalists at the BRICS summit on Thursday, saying that Russia was currently “in contact” with North Korea.

“We have never doubted that the North Korean leadership takes our agreements seriously,” Putin said at the press conference in Kazan, Russia.

“But what and how we will do is up to us,” he added.

Putin’s Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov has been tasked with overseeing the troops’ training, Ukrainian intelligence said.

CNN previously reported how North Korean recruits were filmed receiving equipment and uniforms at a training range in Russia’s Far East.

The soldiers are said to have received ammunition, bedding, winter clothing and shoes as well as hygiene products from the Russian authorities, the Ukrainian secret service reported.