Ukraine has announced the capture of two North Korean soldiers in Russia, marking the first time North Korean troops have been taken alive since their deployment to assist Moscow’s war effort.
The soldiers, who are wounded, were captured in the Kursk region of western Russia, where Ukrainian troops have been fighting to hold onto territory seized during a surprise cross-border incursion last summer. Ukraine’s domestic intelligence service, the SBU, said one soldier was taken prisoner on Thursday, while the location and timing of the second capture remain unknown.
The SBU stated that the soldiers’ capture provides “indisputable evidence” of North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Interrogations are being carried out through Korean translators in coordination with South Korea’s intelligence service.
Ukraine shared photographs and videos of the two soldiers, showing one with bandages around his jaw and the other with bandaged hands. The SBU said that one of the soldiers told interrogators that he thought he was sent to Russia for training, not to fight Ukraine.
The capture is seen as a significant development in the conflict, providing Ukraine with valuable intelligence on Russia’s military operations in Kursk and the involvement of North Korean soldiers. It also raises questions about the extent of North Korea’s military support for Russia.
Fighting continues to rage in Kursk as Russian forces try to rout Ukrainian troops and drive them back across the border. The Biden administration has reported heavy casualties among North Korean soldiers, with over 1,000 killed or wounded fighting Ukrainian troops in Kursk last month.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/11/world/europe/ukraine-north-korea-kursk.html