Have North Koreans disappeared from the front? Ukrainian intelligence explained what happened

According to glavcom.ua: As of the end of June 2025, the losses in the Russian units staffed by North Korean soldiers amount to 4,500 people. This was reported by the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Andriy Yusov, in response to a request.

Ukrainian intelligence clarified that this refers to killed and wounded soldiers of the DPRK.

North Korean units on the side of Russia

Furthermore, as of now (since March this year), the GUR of the Ministry of Defense has not noted any instances of North Korean units being involved in combat operations on the side of Russia.

We recall that in April 2025, North Korea acknowledged for the first time that it had sent its troops to Russia to help reclaim territories in the Kursk region that were captured by Ukrainian forces. The appearance of DPRK military personnel in the Kursk region occurred in accordance with the mutual defense agreement between Pyongyang and Moscow.

Ukrainian intelligence confirmed the losses in North Korean units within the Russian Federation and pointed to significant events related to the involvement of these units in combat operations on the side of Russia in the Kursk region.