According to a new intercepted call released by Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) on Friday, Russian troops stationed in the country's Kursk region were reportedly discussing issues related to the integration of North Korean troops into local units, with language barriers being one of the main issues.

HUR said the call took place between soldiers of Russia's 810th Separate Marine Brigade, part of the 18th Army of the country's Southern Military District.

A Russian soldier explained: “You are already here, learning with a translator.”

“Brother, damn it, I’m already at the translator too. Go ahead, kill them all, (I have) 300 wounded, I have to be evacuated, we are already translating this nonsense,” the Russian said to his comrade.

In addition, the soldier mentioned that the Kremlin plans to deploy one translator and three Russian soldiers for every 30 North Korean soldiers. However, participants expressed doubts about the feasibility of equipping the newly arrived Pyongyang troops with Russian command personnel.

“One translator for 30 people. The only thing I don’t understand is where to get three senior managers for 30 people,” one of them said.

Another Russian soldier explained that they were to welcome the new troops – whom they called “the Chinese” – a day later.

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“Trofimov called him to meet the people tomorrow and asked what was going on with the seniors. He understood that well. But what to do with these people, he has no clarity, that is the question.

“The Chinese, damn it. They got here and I have no idea what to do with them,” he said. Trofimov is believed to be a high-ranking Russian military member of this unit.

According to HUR, the number of North Korean troops stationed in Russia is currently around 12,000. That number includes 500 officers, including three generals from Pyongyang, HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov told The Economist on Tuesday.

North Korea is intervening while Russia is struggling with heavy losses by providing Russia with personnel as well as weapons and equipment, sources told the Kyiv Post in HUR.

In return, Russia would provide North Korea with financial support and modern technologies to help the country develop its nuclear program and expand its nuclear arsenal, Budanov told The Economist.

The Ukrainian Project “I Want to Live” (Хочу жить), a surrender hotline operated by HUR, has called on North Korean soldiers sent to fight against Ukraine to surrender and not take part in combat operations.

Ukraine and South Korea both claimed in mid-October that Pyongyang had deployed troops to support Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, likely as a result of the mutual defense pact signed in June.

This is a developing story. Read more about North Korean troop deployments in Ukraine here.

The Kyiv Post has republished previously intercepted conversations that potentially violate the Kremlin's operational security and reveal the morale of Russian soldiers, their families and ordinary citizens. Examples of what Ukrainian eavesdroppers heard can be found here:

“I have to get the hell out of here” – Russian soldier fears for his life

'I'd rather be dead' – Russian soldier says commanders flee and are killed by their own snipers

“We bury them right there” – Russian on Moscow’s tactics to avoid paying fallen soldiers

“Kiev was never bombed and the Russians are dying” – Russian wife complains about the Kremlin

“What are you bragging about anyway?” – A Russian soldier's wife criticizes the Kremlin for displaying captured weapons

“Half a battalion fled into the forest” – Russian soldier charged with massive refusal to fight

“The attack failed, everyone was killed” – Russian soldier reveals terrible losses, possibly in Avdiivka

“150,000 men will be thrown in” – Russian soldier reveals fears of “huge” Ukrainian Crimea liberation force

“We lost 600 men” – Russian reveals terrible losses and behavior at the front

“All our people were slaughtered” – Intercepted phone calls indicate heavy Russian losses

“He started shooting at us!” – Intercepted phone call reveals Russian friendly fire incident