Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers who were reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. This development marks the first time Ukrainian forces have taken North Korean soldiers alive, following reports that Pyongyang deployed thousands of troops to support Russia’s war efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the capture in a statement on Saturday and shared images of the injured soldiers, who are now in Kyiv under the custody of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU).
According to Zelenskyy, the soldiers were injured during combat but survived long enough to be transported to Kyiv, where they are receiving medical treatment in accordance with the Geneva Convention. The president expressed gratitude to Ukraine’s paratroopers and Special Operations Forces for capturing the men, describing the task as challenging. He also alleged that Russian and North Korean forces often execute their wounded to prevent their capture and interrogation, further complicating such operations.
The captured soldiers, according to Ukrainian intelligence, were found with questionable identification documents. One soldier carried a Russian military ID card with personal details suggesting he was from the Tuva Republic in Russia, while the other soldier had no documentation. Both soldiers reportedly told interrogators they had been sent to Russia under the pretense of training but were quickly deployed to the front lines after only a week of preparation. The SBU indicated that communication with the prisoners is being facilitated by interpreters in collaboration with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.
North Korea’s involvement in the conflict became widely reported last year when intelligence agencies from South Korea and the United States suggested that Pyongyang had sent as many as 11,000 troops to aid Moscow. These forces are believed to have been assigned infantry roles, fighting alongside Russian units or independently in regions like Kursk. The White House previously reported mass casualties among these North Korean soldiers, with some reportedly taking their own lives to avoid capture.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for transparency, stating that journalists would be allowed access to the prisoners to shed light on North Korea’s participation in the war. The president claimed that capturing these soldiers helps expose the extent of Pyongyang’s military support for Moscow, which Russia and North Korea have denied publicly. The Ukrainian government hopes that such revelations will increase international pressure on both Russia and North Korea.
This development comes amid heightened tensions along Ukraine’s front lines, as the conflict enters its fourth year. Ukrainian forces recently launched cross-border attacks into Kursk in an effort to maintain their gains from a lightning offensive in August 2024. However, the campaign has stretched Ukraine’s forces thin, with heavy casualties reported as Russia mounts counterattacks to reclaim lost territory.
The capture of North Korean soldiers further complicates an already volatile geopolitical landscape. North Korea’s involvement in the war has raised alarms globally, with fears of deeper military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. As the war continues to evolve, the presence of foreign troops adds another layer of complexity to a conflict that has drawn in players far beyond the region.
Ukraine = Blue
Russia = Red
North Korea = Orange
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