Ukraine’s defence forces have captured two North Korean soldiers who took part in hostilities on the side of the Russian army in the Kursk region. According to the SBU, this is the first confirmed case of North Korean military participation in the war against Ukraine.
The prisoners were captured by separate units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: one was captured by fighters of the Special Operations Forces’ tactical group No. 84 on 9 January 2025, and the other by Ukrainian paratroopers.
Immediately after their capture, the foreigners were provided with the necessary medical care in accordance with the Geneva Convention. The prisoners were taken to Kyiv for investigation. They are being held in proper conditions that meet international standards.
As the prisoners do not speak Ukrainian, English or Russian, interrogations are conducted through Korean interpreters in cooperation with South Korean intelligence (NIS).
During the detention, one of the prisoners was found to have a Russian-issued military card issued under a different name with registration in Tuva (Russia). The other military man did not have any military documents on him.
According to one of the detainees, born in 2005, he was a rifleman and had served in the DPRK army since 2021. The prisoner said that he received his military ID in Russia in the autumn of 2024, when his unit underwent a week-long coordination exercise with Russian groups. He also claims that he came to Russia allegedly for training, not to participate in the war.
The second prisoner, born in 1999, has been serving in the DPRK army since 2016 as a sniper scout. Due to an injured jaw, he answers some questions in writing, but generally confirms the testimony of his partner.
The SBU continues investigative actions to establish the circumstances of the North Korean military’s participation in the war against Ukraine. The investigation is being conducted under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General’s Office under Article 437 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (planning, preparation, unleashing and waging an aggressive war).