On January 9, 2024, Ukrainian forces captured the first North Korean soldier in the Kursk region, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported, News.bg reports.
A second North Korean POW was captured on an unspecified date.
Kiev is cooperating with South Korean intelligence to overcome the language barrier, as the captives do not speak Ukrainian, Russian or English. One of them was carrying a Russian military registration card issued in the Republic of Tuva in the fall of 2024. The captive revealed that he had only received a week of training before being sent to the front and that he had been tricked into thinking he was participating in an exercise in Russia.
Battlefield Tactics and Consequences
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), North Korean troops are mobilized for large-scale attacks, supported by Russian artillery and drones, which distinguishes them from smaller Russian battle groups. On January 3 and 4, North Korean forces suffered heavy losses, losing up to a battalion near Makhnovka, Kursk Oblast.
These aggressive tactics are taking a heavy toll: President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 3,800 of the 12,000 North Korean soldiers deployed in the region have been killed or wounded so far. Their inability to adapt to drone attacks and plan effectively leaves them vulnerable, despite their significant numerical superiority.
A Ukrainian soldier recounted a battle in December 2024 in which North Korean forces, outnumbered six times, attacked with 400–500 men. Although the Ukrainian defenders held the front for eight hours, a lack of ammunition forced them to retreat.
Russian strategies and international manipulation
While North Korea provides human resources, Russia vigorously pursues its goals of isolating Ukraine and weakening NATO. President Vladimir Putin is not backing down from his 2021 demands, which include Ukraine’s withdrawal from NATO membership, a ban on NATO expansion in Eastern Europe, and a reduction in the number of troops stationed there.
According to the Financial Times, the Kremlin is trying to use this narrative to pressure Western leaders. However, ISW emphasizes that such negotiations will not bring lasting peace while Russia continues to insist on Ukraine’s surrender.
Attacks on Russian infrastructure
On January 11, reports emerged of a possible drone strike by Ukrainian forces against an oil refinery in the Republic of Tatarstan. Local authorities denied the existence of a fire, saying that the footage of smoke and glow was the result of planned changes to the plant’s equipment.