Ukraine's military Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi says a large number of trained North Korean soldiers are deployed in western Russia.

The commander spoke in an interview with local media released on Sunday. He touched on the North Korean troops mobilized in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces continue cross-border attacks.

He said 11,000 to 12,000 fairly motivated and trained soldiers have taken part in offensive operations and are taking advantage of their large numbers.

Syrskyi said the Ukrainian military sometimes faces a lack of ammunition to destroy those North Korean units.

He indicated, however, that almost half of the North Korean troops have been wounded or killed.

Ukraine's General Staff of the Armed Forces said on Saturday that in 434 cases in December, the Russian military used ammunition equipped with chemicals banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Russia is a member of the convention.

The General Staff also said Russia has used such weapons in nearly 5,400 cases since February 2023.

It denounced Russia, saying the country significantly violates the rules of war and ignores obligations set by the convention.