Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to North Korea for helping Russian forces defeat a group of Ukrainian fighters in the Kursk Region. He praised North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and commended Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) soldiers for their “heroism, excellent training and dedication” during the fighting.

In a statement released by Kremlin on Monday, Putin said, “On April 26, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation finally defeated the group of Ukrainian militants that invaded the Kursk Region... Units of the Korean People’s Army played an active role in the fight... We are sincerely grateful, personally to Comrade Kim Jong-un, as well as the people of the DPRK. We commend the DPRK soldiers’ heroism, their excellent training and dedication displayed while fighting, shoulder to shoulder with Russian soldiers, defending our Motherland as their own.”