Today at 16:02
For the first time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces captured North Korean soldiers who were fighting on the side of Russian troops in the Kursk region. This event became a strong proof of the DPRK’s participation in Russia’s war against Ukraine, which is now being investigated by the Security Service of Ukraine.
The capture took place on January 9, 2025. One of the soldiers was captured by the soldiers of the 84th Tactical Group of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine, and the other by paratroopers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
After the capture, both prisoners of war were provided with the necessary medical care in accordance with the Geneva Convention. The prisoners were transported to Kyiv for initial investigations. They are being held in conditions that comply with international law.
Due to the language barrier – the prisoners speak neither Ukrainian, English, nor Russian – communication is carried out with the help of Korean interpreters provided by the South Korean intelligence service.
One of the soldiers was found to have a Russian military ID issued under a different name with a residence permit in the Republic of Tyva (Russia). The other soldier did not have any documents on him.
During the interrogation, one of the soldiers admitted that he had been issued the ID in the fall of 2024 in Russia, after a week-long joint exercise of DPRK and Russian military units. He said he was born in 2005, is a rifleman, and has been serving in the North Korean army since 2021. He also claimed that he came for training, not to participate in hostilities.
The second POW confirmed his comrade’s testimony. Due to an injured jaw, he provided some of his answers in writing. According to preliminary information, he was born in 1999 and has been serving in the DPRK armed forces since 2016 as a sniper.
The Security Service of Ukraine is investigating all the circumstances of the DPRK military’s participation in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The case is being considered under Article 437 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (planning, preparation, unleashing and waging of aggressive war) under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
You can watch a video with details on our YouTube channel
