Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently announced a significant development in the ongoing conflict, revealing that Ukrainian forces have captured two North Korean soldiers who had been fighting alongside Russian troops in Kursk. This marks a pivotal moment as Ukraine seeks to maintain control over newly acquired territories and push back against Russian advances.
Following Ukraine's new offensive in Kursk, aimed at securing land gained in a successful August attack, Zelenskyy shared the news. This event is historic, as it represents the first occupation of Russian territory by Ukrainian forces since World War II. Despite the challenges, this achievement underscores Ukraine’s resilience in the face of Russian opposition.
However, Moscow’s counteroffensive has proven effective, reclaiming over 40% of the 984 square kilometers previously seized by Ukrainian forces. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers have died or been wounded in the ongoing battles.
In his announcement, Zelenskyy included images of the captured soldiers, showing them resting on cots. One soldier was visibly injured with wounds to his jaw, while the other had injuries to his hands and wrists. Both soldiers survived and were transported to Kyiv for further interrogation. The presence of North Korean soldiers in Kursk had been concealed by Russian and North Korean forces, with reports indicating that they even resorted to killing wounded soldiers to prevent capture. The soldiers' identities remained partially unclear; one lacked identification, while the other carried a Russian military ID from Tuva, a region near Mongolia.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) later provided more details about the prisoners. Both soldiers do not speak Ukrainian, Russian, or English, so communication has been facilitated through Korean translators and South Korean intelligence. One of the captured soldiers shared that he had been sent to Russia for training but had no knowledge of being deployed to Ukraine.
As required by the Geneva Conventions, both prisoners have received medical care while in Ukrainian custody. For further details on this story, you can read more on the capture of North Korean soldiers in Kursk at this link.
Estimates of North Korean casualties in the region suggest that approximately 200 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured while fighting alongside Russian forces in Kursk. This marks the first major casualty estimate for North Korean soldiers in the ongoing war. North Korea reportedly deployed between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to assist Russian forces.
The involvement of North Korean soldiers highlights the growing support Russia has received from countries like North Korea, signaling the broader international dynamics at play in the ongoing war. For the latest updates on the situation, visit Euro News.