Thread by @revishvilig

Very insightful details about North Korean soldiers in Kursk Oblast shared by Ukraine's Special Operation Forces.

According to a 🇺🇦 operator from the 84th Tactical Group, the troops sent to the Kursk region were DPRK Special Operations Forces, not regular soldiers. 1/23⬇️

"If the North Korean authorities find out that one of their soldiers has surrendered, their family will face severe repercussions—likely execution or forced labor." 2/23

"That’s why the Korean fighter who blew himself up when one of our tactical groups approached chose a grenade over captivity." - says SSO operator "Greek" 3/23

A group of North Korean fighters, including those who are now prisoners, had been tracked by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces for some time. The DPRK soldiers were gathering strength for an assault, but the Ukrainian troops acted preemptively and struck first. 4/23

The battle was brief—the Korean soldiers were caught off guard and quickly disoriented. Panic set in as they retreated chaotically, while Ukrainian forces moved to encircle them. One North Korean soldier broke away from the group. 5/23

He looked severely weakened and appeared to be in shock from a shrapnel wound to his leg. Through a mix of persuasion and tactical maneuvering, his carbine and grenade were successfully taken from him. 6/23

"He looked almost like a child, a very young guy. We had no thoughts or desire to beat him or anything like that. We wanted to save him, and we did. We did everything to make him feel calm and safe, to show him that he was not in danger from us." 7/23

"That’s how we captured him—nothing complicated, just a precise and well-coordinated operation," says SSO operator 8/23

As the Korean soldier was being evacuated, Russian forces attempted to strike the group with artillery. Once in shelter, he was given a painkiller injection. "He was extremely thirsty and hungry, asking for water, food, and cigarettes. We provided everything he requested." 9/23

"Overall, he behaved well. It was clear he respected us because he understood we wouldn't harm him. But you could see he was anxious about being a prisoner." Later, the same prisoner said he wanted to stay in Ukraine, but if that wasn't allowed, he would return to North Korea.

"I don’t remember exactly—there was a battle, I was wounded, and during the retreat, I couldn’t move. I was alone for 3-5 days until the Ukrainian forces found me, gave me an injection, and transported me." - says Korean soldier. 11/23

The captured Korean soldier serves in a reconnaissance battalion. According to him, all men in North Korea join the military after school for compulsory service, and he chose reconnaissance. 12/23

"My mother doesn’t know where I was. The ship that brought me from Korea to Russia carried about 100 people. It was a Russian cargo ferry, not a military one, but only we were on board. The same people from the ferry were with me on the train," he claims. 13/23

He notes that many Koreans are dying in the Kursk region but gives no numbers. It's unclear if he's withholding information or simply unaware, but he chooses his words carefully. 14/23

"I don’t know much about the world outside North Korea. About South Korea, I only know that it has fewer mountains than the DPRK" 15/23

SSO operator Greek says that North Korean troops are deployed in multiple areas of the Kursk region, with some positions manned exclusively by them, without Russian logistical support. 16/23

"Imagine they send 10,000 soldiers in one direction. This tactic strains both Ukrainian forces and supply lines. Countering such mass assault waves requires significant resources." 17/23

A captured North Korean soldier had a newly issued Russian military ID without a photo, falsely listing him as a Tuvan. 18/23

"The DPRK troops are unprepared for modern warfare, unlike the Russians, who have consistent combat experience and can adapt to battlefield changes. North Koreans, however, cannot. We saw this in various instances, including the drone warfare." 19/23

"The North Koreans still don’t fully grasp that it’s not just people fighting, but machines too. They try to counter this, but unsuccessfully. They’re dying in large numbers because they don’t know how to deal with drones." 20/23

"Most DPRK soldiers are killed in the first minutes of assaults, with the remaining small groups attempting to capture positions." 21/23

Their commanders join the assaults, which is rare. SSO forces caution not to underestimate North Korean soldiers—they are slowly adapting and remain highly ideological, eager to demonstrate their loyalty to their ideals on the battlefield. 22/23

Nevertheless, Ukrainian forces can eliminate up to 15 North Korean soldiers in a single combat sortie. The Russians show no mercy, sending them to the front lines for recon. 23/23

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