Russia building up military forces, forming new brigades for war - Ukraine's Defense Minister 

As reported by Radio Liberty, in a press conference in Kyiv, Umerov said, "Russian forces are growing. They’re creating new brigades, and by June 1, they had already reached half of their goal."

He also pointed out that Russia is facing challenges with mobilization, which is why it has started using troops from North Korea and other mercenaries. 

"They’re relying on many mercenaries from Africa and Asia. Now, they’re using DPRK forces. They’re facing difficulties, but they’re continuing to grow. We know the exact numbers, and it’s significant," Umerov added.

Umerov emphasized that Ukraine is focused on building its own forces to ensure it can defend and stabilize the situation. "We are growing our forces to prevent Russia from gaining an advantage," he said.

• According to the G20 countries, North Korea may send up to 100,000 troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine if cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow deepens.