Ukrainian forces have captured two wounded North Korean soldiers who were fighting alongside Russian troops in Russia's Kursk border region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday.
The captured soldiers are currently being held and questioned in Kyiv, where they are receiving medical treatment in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. One soldier has injuries to his hands and wrists, while the other has a bandaged jaw and a broken leg.
According to Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), communication with the prisoners requires Korean translators as they do not speak Ukrainian, English, or Russian. The questioning is being conducted in cooperation with South Korean intelligence services.
One of the captured soldiers was carrying a Russian military ID card identifying him as being from Tuva, a Russian region bordering Mongolia. The other soldier had no documentation. During questioning, one soldier claimed he had been told he was going to Russia for training rather than combat.
President Zelensky noted that capturing the North Korean soldiers alive was challenging, claiming that Russian and North Korean forces typically attempt to eliminate wounded North Korean troops to hide evidence of their participation in the conflict.
The captures occurred during Ukraine's recent military operations in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched new attacks following their initial incursion in August. This marks the first time Ukraine has been able to question captured North Korean soldiers, though previous captives reportedly died from serious wounds.
Ukrainian authorities have stated they will provide media access to the prisoners, emphasizing the importance of showing the world North Korea's involvement in the conflict. The White House and Pentagon previously confirmed that North Korean forces have been fighting alongside Russian units, with estimates suggesting between 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to support Russia's military efforts.
The captured soldiers are being provided medical care and held in conditions that meet international law requirements as investigations continue.