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KYIV, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Ukraine's special operations forces have not observed any North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk region for approximately three weeks, indicating a possible withdrawal due to heavy losses, stated a military spokesperson on Friday.

Estimates from Ukrainian and Western sources suggest that about 11,000 troops from Russia's ally North Korea were sent to Kursk to aid Moscow's forces. Russia has neither confirmed nor denied their presence.

Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, spokesperson for the special operations forces, stated, The special operations forces provide updates solely on the areas where our units are stationed; hence, we report that North Korean troop presence has not been detected for roughly three weeks.

Presumably, they were compelled to retreat after sustaining significant casualties, he added in a release.

The Ukrainian military spokesperson overseeing the entire Kursk front told Reuters that he could not officially comment on the situation. It remains unclear along which sectors of the front in the Kursk region the special operations forces are positioned.

In August, Ukraine made a surprise incursion into the western Russian region of Kursk in an attempt to redirect Moscow's forces, boost morale, and create a negotiating advantage.

Although Russia has managed to push back Ukrainian troops, they have not been able to force them all the way back to the border.

As per Kyiv and its Western partners, North Korean regular troops joined the conflict on Russia's side in October, reportedly deployed to the Kursk region.

On Jan. 11, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that Ukrainian special forces, working alongside paratroopers, had captured two North Korean soldiers alive on the battlefield.