In a significant development amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that Ukrainian forces have captured two North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region. The soldiers, despite being wounded, were safely transported to Kyiv and are now under the custody of the Security Service of Ukraine.
Taking to social media platform X, Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the Ukrainian soldiers who executed the challenging operation. “Our soldiers have captured North Korean military personnel in the Kursk region. Two soldiers, though wounded, survived and were transported to Kyiv, where they are now communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine,” the President wrote.
Zelenskyy commended Tactical Group No. 84 of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces and Ukrainian paratroopers for their bravery and efficiency during the mission. He underscored the complexities of the operation, noting that Russian forces and their North Korean counterparts often execute wounded soldiers to conceal North Korea’s involvement in the war.
“This was not an easy task: Russian forces and other North Korean military personnel usually execute their wounded to erase any evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the war against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy revealed. “I am grateful to the soldiers of Tactical Group No. 84 of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as our paratroopers, who captured these two individuals.”
Zelenskyy confirmed that the captured soldiers are receiving necessary medical treatment as prisoners of war. He has also instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to facilitate media access to the prisoners to shed light on North Korea’s covert participation in the conflict.
“The world needs to know the truth about what is happening,” Zelenskyy emphasized, advocating transparency in exposing foreign involvement in the war.
Reports from Ukrainian and Western intelligence indicate that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed in the Kursk region to support Russian operations. The area has witnessed heightened activity, with Ukrainian forces conducting cross-border incursions since August 2024, reclaiming swathes of territory and exposing the extent of foreign military cooperation with Russia.
