KYIV, Ukraine — On Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian forces have managed to capture two North Korean soldiers who were fighting alongside Russian military units in the Kursk border region of Russia. This claim marks a significant development for Kyiv, as it comes shortly after North Korea dispatched thousands of troops to support Moscow’s military efforts far from home.
Zelenskyy’s remarks were made in the context of Ukraine ramping up offensives in Kurks following the difficult conditions created by a slow Russian advance in the eastern parts of the country. The recent actions aim to maintain control over territories acquired during a rapid invasion in August, which was the first time since World War II that Russians lost control of their territory.
The counteroffensive from Moscow has taken a toll on Ukrainian forces, leading to high numbers of casualties and the recapturing of more than 40% of the 984 square kilometers that Ukraine seized during its incursion. In a message posted on the Telegram platform, Zelenskyy disclosed, “Our soldiers captured North Korean troops in Kursk. The two individuals, although injured, are safe and are now in Kyiv, communicating with our security services.”
Zelenskyy shared images showing the two captured soldiers resting on cots in what appears to be a secured area, complete with barred windows. The men were depicted with visible injuries; one had bandages around his jaw, while the other had his hands and wrists wrapped.
He explained that capturing these soldiers alive was a challenging task, indicating that both Russian and North Korean forces in the region have made efforts to hide their North Korean personnel by executing wounded comrades in an attempt to prevent them from falling into Ukrainian hands.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that one captured soldier had no identification documents, while the other possessed a Russian military ID card identifying him as a member of a group from Tuva, a region in Russia adjacent to Mongolia. The SBU added that one soldier mentioned he had been informed that he was being sent to Russia for military training rather than to engage in combat against Ukraine. His unit, consisting entirely of North Koreans, had reportedly undergone just one week of training with Russian forces before being deployed to the front lines.
A high-ranking Ukrainian military official remarked last month that a considerable number of North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces have been killed or wounded in the ongoing conflict. Current estimations suggest that between 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, with U.S. intelligence indicating that they are mainly fighting in infantry roles, either alongside Russian units or independently in the Kursk region.
The full-scale invasion launched by Russia three years ago has resulted in Russia controlling about one-fifth of Ukraine, prompting Zelenskyy to imply that gaining control over Kursk could pressure Moscow into negotiations for a resolution to the war. However, several Ukrainian and Western officials have expressed concerns that concentrating efforts on Kursk might compromise the sturdiness of Ukraine’s 1,000-kilometer front line, noting that valuable ground is already being lost in the eastern territories.
In a related event, Zelenskyy communicated with U.S. President Joe Biden following the introduction of new U.S. sanctions targeting Russia’s crucial energy sector. According to Zelenskyy’s Telegram updates, these sanctions affect over 180 oil-carrying vessels believed to be part of a covert network utilized by the Kremlin to avoid sanctions, in addition to various Russian energy firms and officials. Some of the identified vessels are thought to be involved in transporting sanctioned Iranian oil.
“It is crucial that America has effectively targeted Russia’s shadow tanker fleet, including companies like Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, which fund Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin personally. He must face financial consequences for his actions in this war,” Zelenskyy stated, highlighting the sanctions imposed on major Russian energy companies and their subsidiaries.
In retaliation, the Russian Foreign Ministry asserted that Washington’s aggressive actions would provoke a response, although further details on any planned countermeasures were not provided.
Meanwhile, reports from southern Russia indicate that Ukrainian drones targeted residential areas in the Tambov region, causing property damage and injuries, although specifics about the casualties were not disclosed. Russian air defense forces claimed to have downed 85 Ukrainian drones mostly headed for the southern and western territories, while Ukrainian air force stated that Russia launched 74 drones against Ukraine overnight.
The notably high activity of Ukrainian drones, as noted by Russian authorities, suggests that Kyiv may be intensifying its efforts to enhance its domestic arms production, potentially aiming to create damage comparable to that inflicted by Russian forces.
