Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, said North Korea’s assistance will bolster Russia’s long-range fire capabilities in Kursk Oblast and on the Ukrainian front, but he does not expect many new ground combat units.

It will mostly be missile and artillery troops who typically operate hundreds of tubed and rocket artillery systems as well as the KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles Pyongyang has already provided Moscow,

Ukraine’s president released a video of the two soldiers being interrogated, revealing they knew little about the war they were sent to fight in.

Russia signed a strategic partnership treaty with Iran on Friday that follows similar pacts with China and North Korea. All three countries are adversaries of the United States, and Russia has used its ties with them to help blunt the impact of Western sanctions and boost its war effort in Ukraine.