Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukrainian forces operating in the Kursk region of Russia recently made a significant capture, taking two North Korean soldiers alive. This is the first time that Ukraine has captured soldiers from North Korea, an isolated state, marking a unique development in the ongoing conflict.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the captured soldiers, though wounded, were transported to Kyiv and are currently in communication with the Security Service of Ukraine. The Ukrainian forces, in cooperation with Western assessments, estimated that around 11,000 North Korean troops are deployed in the Kursk region. This occurrence follows a cross-border incursion by Ukrainian forces in August of the previous year, resulting in significant territorial control.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported that over 1,000 North Korean forces suffered casualties in the Kursk region during the last week of December. Zelensky emphasized the challenges faced in capturing the soldiers, highlighting the common practice among Russian and North Korean forces of executing wounded soldiers to conceal their involvement in the conflict.

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) released a video showcasing the captured soldiers, revealing the conditions in which they are being held. The soldiers, one with a jaw wound and the other with a fractured leg, are under the care of the SBU and are communicating through Korean interpreters in coordination with the South Korean intelligence service.

This development represents a significant milestone for Ukraine, marking the first time the country has managed to capture North Korean soldiers alive from the battlefield. The news comes as Ukraine resumes its offensive operations in Kursk, with recent precision strikes on Russian military targets near the town of Belaya. Both sides, despite the prolonged conflict, are intensifying their efforts in the region, potentially setting the stage for upcoming peace talks and negotiations.