Ukraine has captured two injured North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. The soldiers, now receiving medical care, are in the custody of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) in Kyiv. Zelensky commended Ukrainian paratroopers and special forces for the capture, emphasizing the difficulty of the operation, as Russian and North Korean soldiers allegedly execute wounded North Koreans to conceal their involvement in the conflict.
The prisoners were captured on January 9 and were provided with medical care as required by the Geneva Convention, according to Ukrainian intelligence. Communication with the soldiers, who do not speak Ukrainian, Russian, or English, is facilitated by Korean interpreters with assistance from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.
Zelensky released images of the captured soldiers, one holding a Russian military ID card listing a birthplace in Tuva, near Mongolia, while the other had no documents. The captured soldier with the ID reportedly stated he received it in Russia during autumn 2024, after a week of interoperability training with Russian units. He claimed he was sent for training, not combat.
The second prisoner, a scout sniper, reportedly provided written responses due to a jaw injury. Ukrainian authorities believe he was born in 1999 and has served in North Korea since 2016.
Zelensky stated that Russia attempts to conceal the presence of North Korean soldiers by issuing them Russian identification. Despite this, both prisoners were confirmed to be from North Korea.
This revelation follows previous reports of North Korean troop involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine, with Russia facing accusations of recruiting foreign fighters. Investigations continue under Ukraine’s criminal code for planning and waging an aggressive war.