Russia claims its forces have taken back a string of villages from Ukrainian forces in Kursk and are blocking Ukrainian units invading the region.

Russia claims it has taken back a string of villages from Ukrainian forces in Kursk, but has not managed to push back Ukrainians out of its territory.

The Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of Ukraine's Defense Ministry intercepted communications between the Russian military, who are discussing the preparation for receiving and embedding North Korean soldiers with the Russian forces in the Kursk axis.

The communications involve service members from Russia's 810th Separate Marine Brigade, 18th Army of the Southern Military District deployed in Kursk region.

In the intercepts, the invaders discuss preparations for the reception and distribution of North Korean military personnel (provisional name: Battalion "K") in the Kursk direction.

In order to set up interaction, the invaders plan to attach one translator and three Russian servicemen to every 30 North Korean soldiers.

However, the Russians express doubts about the possibility of ensuring that the new arrivals will have enough local commanders to lead their units.

Ukraine began a cross-border incursion in August and still holds significant swathes of territory

Russian forces are still in the formation phase, probing Ukrainian defenses with artillery and drone strikes before a larger offensive