North Korean soldiers have been filmed storming Ukrainian trenches as reports emerge of Kim Jong-un’s troops suffering significant losses.

Volodymyr Zelensky published a series of clips showing North Koreans on the battlefield in Kursk and accused Moscow of trying to “hide” growing casualty numbers.

In drone footage shared on the Ukrainian president’s Telegram channel on Monday, North Korean troops were seen sheltering behind a tree after allegedly advancing on Ukrainian positions in Kursk.

Another video appeared to show Russian forces trying to conceal the presence of their North Korean counterparts, covering their faces with masks and using a campfire to burn the faces of the dead.

“Russia is not only involving North Korean soldiers in assaults against Ukrainian positions, but also trying to hide the losses of these people,” Mr Zelensky said. He added: “The Russians are also trying to literally burn the faces of the killed North Korean soldiers.”

He called it a clear demonstration of Russia’s “contempt for everything human”.