North Korean soldiers accidentally killed eight Russian troops after a misunderstanding caused by the language barrier, Ukrainian intelligence said. 

According to HUR, Kyiv’s military intelligence, the deadly incident occurred when “fearful” North Koreans opened fire on vehicles from Russia’s “Akhmat” Chechen legion in Kursk, which Moscow is trying to recapture from Ukraine. 

It said that Russia has faced problems commanding North Korean troops because of the communication issue.

HUR did not specify when the incident took place but announced separately on Monday that Ukrainian forces had killed or wounded some 30 North Korean soldiers over the weekend during fighting in the Kursk region. 

The losses happened around the villages of Plekhovo, Vorobzha and Martynivka, HUR said, adding that three North Koreans were missing near Kurilovka.

It marks the first time that casualties from Pyongyang have been reported since the US confirmed in late October that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers had entered the war.