Soldier Captured by Ukraine Reports Significant Casualties in Russia’s Offensive, Claims He Was Unaware of Deployment
A North Korean soldier, captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region, has reported severe losses among Pyongyang’s troops fighting for Moscow, according to an official video released on January 20. The soldier, who was injured during the conflict, spoke about the heavy casualties his unit faced while being interrogated by Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine has now captured two North Korean soldiers from the region and released interrogation footage, with one soldier detailing his experiences. Despite this, Moscow has yet to acknowledge the presence of North Korean forces in the Kursk area, a claim that has been independently confirmed by both Seoul and Washington.
In a video shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the young soldier, lying in a hospital bed, discussed the number of casualties among his comrades. He explained that after joining the battle on January 3, he witnessed many of his fellow soldiers either killed or injured. When questioned about the death toll, he confirmed heavy losses within his unit.
In an earlier video, the soldier recounted hiding in a dugout during an offensive on January 3 as he watched his comrades perish. He was subsequently injured and captured two days later.
The soldier, who was serving in a reconnaissance unit, stated that while some of his fellow North Korean soldiers had been trained to use Russian military equipment, he himself had not received such training. He further revealed that he had been transported to Russia from North Korea, initially unaware that he would be fighting. He believed he had been sent via a cargo vessel with around 100 other conscripts, and later transported by sleeper train.
The soldier also shared that he had been conscripted into the North Korean military at the age of 17 and had been serving since then. He reiterated that he had no prior knowledge of his deployment to Russia.
