North Korean troops in Ukraine face near extinction by April
According to the Institute for the Study of War, North Korean troops in Ukraine may cease to exist by mid-April. Losses are reaching nearly 100 soldiers per day.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that North Korean troops in Ukraine may cease to exist by mid-April. Currently, approximately 12,000 soldiers from North Korea are stationed in the Kursk region, losing nearly 100 personnel daily. Many are severely wounded, casting doubt on their return to the front lines.
Increasing losses on the front
Volodymyr Zelensky announced at the beginning of January that 3,800 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded on the Russian-Ukrainian front. Two months prior, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov mentioned their involvement in "small skirmishes" in the Kursk region. However, since December, these forces have been engaged in more serious combat operations, suffering losses of about 90 soldiers daily.
The South Korean army, monitoring the actions of its neighbours, provides different numbers. "South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated on January 13 that so far 300 North Koreans have been killed in action and 2,700 have been wounded in action in Kursk Oblast," ISW reported. Analysts emphasize that the forces supporting Russia are becoming increasingly weakened, and most soldiers require lengthy recovery.
The future of North Korean forces
It is unclear whether the injured North Koreans will return to the front. Experts from ISW predict that if the current rate of losses continues, the entire North Korean contingent may cease to exist by mid-April. This situation may affect the further course of the conflict in Ukraine.
Kim Jong Un's soldiers captured in Ukraine
North Korean soldiers who fought on the side of Russia and were captured by Ukrainian forces confirm during interrogations that they have no knowledge of Ukraine and are used by Moscow solely to prolong the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.
Two North Korean soldiers were captured in the Kursk region in Russia, partially occupied by Ukrainian forces. Wounded during combat, they were transported to Kyiv, as Zelensky reported on January 11. They are currently being interrogated by Ukrainian authorities.
"Communication is ongoing between the captured North Korean soldiers and Ukrainian investigators. We are establishing the facts and checking all the details. The world will learn the whole truth about how Russia uses these people, who grew up in complete informational isolation, know nothing about Ukraine, and are used by Russia solely to continue and expand this war," the Ukrainian president announced on social media.
