Ukrainian troops have captured two wounded North Korean soldiers as prisoners of war in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday. The captured soldiers are receiving necessary medical assistance and are currently in the custody of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Kyiv.
Zelensky expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian paratroopers and Special Operation Forces for their successful operation in capturing the North Koreans, emphasizing that it was “not an easy task.” He noted that Russian and North Korean forces typically execute wounded North Korean soldiers to eliminate evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the conflict against Ukraine.
In a statement on social media, Zelensky disclosed that the soldiers are currently cooperating with SBU investigators and that he has instructed the Security Service to allow journalists access to them. “The world needs to know the truth about what is happening,” he stated.
Zelensky shared photographs of the two wounded soldiers but did not provide verification of their nationality. One of the images featured a Russian army ID card belonging to a 26-year-old man from Russia’s Tyva region, which borders Mongolia. Reports suggest that Russia may be concealing the presence of North Korean fighters by issuing them fake identification.
In December, South Korea’s intelligence services reported that a North Korean soldier, allegedly the first captured while supporting Russia in Ukraine, had died after being taken by Ukrainian forces. Additionally, recent statements from the White House indicate that North Korean forces are facing significant casualties.
