Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media that two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk, which Ukrainians conquered last year.
“Two soldiers, although injured, survived and were transported to Kiev, where they are now communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine,” said the Ukrainian leader in a post on the social network X (formerly Twitter). Zelensky also shared photos of Asian prisoners, who have been supporting the Russian offensive on Ukrainian soil since the end of 2024. Kim Jong-Un, dictator of North Korea, is one of Putin’s main allies in the war
“The world needs to know the truth about what is happening,” he said. “It was not an easy task: Russian forces and other North Korean militaries often execute their wounded to erase any evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the war against Ukraine”, revealed Zelensky.
Ukraine stressed that it will give North Koreans the same treatment provided to other prisoners of war, with medical assistance if necessary, and that it will allow the press access to prisoners of war in the future.
According to surveys by intelligence agencies from the United States and Western allies, around 12,000 North Korean soldiers are currently stationed on Russian soil, mainly in the Kursk region, where they help Vladimir Putin’s regime forces in the battle against the Ukrainians. Pyongyang’s support for the Russian dictator’s attacks came after a mutual defense agreement signed by the two countries.
In total, Ukraine estimates that 4,000 North Koreans have already been captured or killed on the Russian front.