Two North Korean Soldiers Captured by Ukrainian Forces

Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces, President Zelenskyy announced on Telegram. 

One soldier is a rifleman born in 2005; the other is a sniper born in 1999.

The captured soldiers were wounded and transported to Kyiv.

One had a Russian military ID issued in fall 2024, while the other had no documents. During questioning through Korean translators working with South Korean intelligence, the rifleman revealed they had trained with Russian forces for a week in 2024.

He reportedly claimed he was going for training, not combat.

Russians and North Korean soldiers typically eliminate their wounded to hide evidence of North Korea's involvement in the war,  Zelenskyy noted.

Both prisoners receive medical care following the Geneva Convention, and Zelenskyy has authorized media access to them.

The SBU (Ukrainian Security Service) is investigating their cases to fully document North Korea's participation in Russia's war against Ukraine.

The rifleman has served in the North Korean military since 2021, while the sniper has served since 2016.

Original Author: Rimma Karataeva