North Korean soldiers have clashed with Ukrainian forces for the first time, Kyiv's military officials have said.

The first clashes between North Korean forces and Ukrainian troops have reportedly occurred in the Kursk region of Russia. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the engagement in an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS on November 5, though he noted that the full deployment of North Korean forces in the region would take some more time.

Zelenskyy: Ukrainians are fighting North Korean troops deployed in Russia

Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said a "small group" of North Korean soldiers were attacked.

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- North Korean troops have entered combat with Ukrainian forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, calling the engagement a "new page of instability in the world."

‘Significant number’ of North Koreans were killed, report says

Western and Ukrainian officials have called the appearance of North Korean forces on the battlefield a major escalation.

Ukrainian and North Korean troops clash for the first time as the North sends military personnel to support Russia's long ongoing war with its neighbor.

Ukrainian soldiers have clashed with North Korean units that were recently deployed to support Russia for the first time, Ukraine's defence ministry confirmed Tuesday. The fighting took place in Russia's…

Ukrainian military's first clashes with North Korean troops had opened the way to more "instability in the world", President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

North Korean troops recently deployed to help Russia in its war with Ukraine have come under Ukrainian fire, a Kyiv official said Tuesday. It is the first time a Ukrainian official has claimed that Pyongyang’s units were struck, following a deployment that has given the war a new complexion as…

KYIV, Ukraine — North Korean troops recently deployed to help Russia in its war with Ukraine have come under Ukrainian fire, a Kyiv official said Tuesday.

“The first North Korean troops have already been shelled, in the Kursk region,” a Kyiv official said Tuesday.

“We expect more engagements in the coming weeks,” Ukraine’s defense minister adds.