Ukraine captures two North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia and releases photos
January 11 (UPI) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that Ukraine had captured alive two North Korean soldiers who were injured while fighting for Russia.
Zelensky said in a long article on X that the two North Korean soldiers were captured in the Kursk Oblast on Russia’s border with Ukraine.
“I thank the soldiers of the 84th Tactical Group of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our paratroopers for capturing these two men,” Zelensky said on the X stage.
Late last year, North Korean soldiers began arriving to reinforce Russian troops.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Saturday that Ukraine had captured alive two North Korean soldiers who were injured while fighting for Russia. Photo courtesy of the President of Ukraine
Earlier this week, the U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations said the organization estimated North Korea had sent more than 12,000 troops to Russia to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
At the end of December, Zelensky said that the estimated number of North Korean soldiers killed in fighting with Ukrainian troops was about 3,000.
The two were taken to Kyiv, where they were interrogated by Ukrainian troops. Photo courtesy of the President of Ukraine
At the end of December, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that the first North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine subsequently died.
“This is not an easy task: Russian troops and other North Korean military personnel routinely execute the wounded to eliminate any evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the war in Ukraine,” Zelensky said on Saturday.
Ukraine said two North Korean soldiers were receiving necessary medical assistance. Photo courtesy of the President of Ukraine
The two were taken to Kyiv, where they were interrogated by Ukrainian troops.
Zelensky said he also provided the photos to international journalists and posted a photo of the pair.
In late December, Ukraine said it estimated the number of North Korean soldiers killed in fighting with Ukrainian forces at around 3,000. Photo courtesy of the President of Ukraine
“Like all prisoners of war, the two North Korean soldiers are receiving necessary medical assistance,” the Ukrainian president said on X.
“I have instructed Ukrainian security services to allow journalists access to these prisoners. The world needs to know the truth about what is happening”
The news comes a day after the Biden administration announced some of its toughest sanctions yet on Russian oil production and exports.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian forces attacked a targeted Russian oil depot used to fuel strategic bombers.
