Ukraine Captures Two North Korean Soldiers Fighting Alongside Russian Troops

Ukrainian forces have captured two North Korean soldiers who were fighting alongside Russian troops in the contested Kursk border region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed on Saturday.

The announcement follows Ukraine’s renewed offensive in Kursk to hold onto territories gained in a rapid incursion in August, marking the first occupation of Russian land by Ukraine since World War II. However, Moscow’s counteroffensive has recaptured over 40% of the 984 square kilometers initially seized, inflicting heavy casualties on Ukrainian forces.

“Ukraine soldiers Arrest North Korean combatants. Despite being wounded, they survived and were transported to Kyiv for interrogation by Ukrainian security services,” Zelenskyy posted on X. He shared images of the detainees resting on hospital cots, with visible injuries—one with bandages around his jaw and the other with both wrists wrapped.

Zelenskyy emphasized the difficulty of taking the soldiers alive, accusing Russian and North Korean troops of attempting to cover up Pyongyang’s involvement by executing injured comrades to prevent their capture.

The SBU disclosed that one detainee lacked any identification, while the other carried a Russian military ID issued to an individual from Tuva, a Russian region bordering Mongolia.

“The prisoners do not speak Local Language. Communication is facilitated by Korean translators with assistance from South Korean intelligence,” the SBU statement explained.

One of the soldiers claimed he had been deployed to Russia under the pretense of receiving training, unaware he would be sent to fight against Ukraine.

A senior Ukrainian military official previously reported that around 200 North Korean troops fighting in Kursk have been killed or wounded. This estimate follows Ukraine’s claim that Pyongyang dispatched 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers to support Russia’s nearly three-year-long war.

The White House and Pentagon have corroborated reports of North Korean forces operating on the front lines, primarily in infantry roles, both alongside Russian units and independently.

This development underscores the growing complexity of the conflict, with North Korea’s military involvement reflecting deepening alliances and escalating geopolitical tensions.