Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Friday that several wounded North Korean soldiers, captured during combat by Ukrainian forces, succumbed to their injuries despite efforts to save them. Zelensky accused Russia of deploying these soldiers into the battlefield with “minimal protection,” highlighting the precarious conditions under which they were forced to fight.
“Today, there were reports about several soldiers from North Korea. Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner. But they were very seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated,” Zelensky said during his nightly address shared on social media. He did not specify the exact number of North Korean soldiers who died after their capture.
Ukraine and its Western allies have accused North Korea of sending thousands of soldiers to support Russia’s war efforts, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict that began with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Reports suggest that North Korean soldiers are being used to bolster Russia’s manpower on the battlefield, especially in critical zones where Russian forces face intense pressure.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service also confirmed on Friday that a North Korean soldier, captured while fighting alongside Russian troops, had died from severe injuries. This corroborates Ukraine’s claims about North Korean involvement in Russia’s military campaigns.
Zelensky previously claimed that approximately 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded while supporting Russian forces. Many of these casualties occurred in the western Kursk border region, where Ukraine launched a surprise incursion in August. This region has witnessed fierce combat as Ukrainian forces seek to push back Russian advances and reclaim territory.
The deployment of North Korean soldiers has drawn widespread condemnation, with critics arguing that it reflects Russia’s desperation to sustain its military operations in Ukraine. Zelensky accused Moscow of exploiting foreign soldiers, sending them into combat with inadequate preparation, resources, or protection.
The involvement of North Korea in Russia’s war against Ukraine signals a deepening alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang, raising alarm among global powers. Analysts view this development as a concerning escalation that could further complicate efforts to bring an end to the nearly three-year-long war.
As the conflict intensifies, the deaths of captured North Korean soldiers serve as a grim reminder of the growing international dimensions of the war, underscoring the tragic human cost of continued hostilities.
