Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Friday (December 27) that the North Korean troops deployed in the Russian Kursk region are suffering significant losses without protection from the Russian forces fighting alongside them.
According to reports from Reuters, Zelensky mentioned in a video statement on Friday night local time in Ukraine that the Russian forces are sending North Korean soldiers to the battlefield with minimal protection, and these North Koreans are taking extreme measures to avoid being captured.
“They (North Koreans) have suffered losses, significant losses. We see that neither the Russian military nor their North Korean supervisors are interested in ensuring the survival of these North Koreans,” he said.
“Everything is arranged so that we cannot capture them,” Zelensky added, “In some cases, they are executed by their own army. The Russians send them to attack while providing them with minimal protection.”
Reports from Ukrainian and Western intelligence agencies estimate that around 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Kursk, a region on the Russian border, after Ukrainian forces captured a large portion of the territory in the state following a cross-border attack in August.
Zelensky had previously stated that over 3,000 North Koreans have died or been injured in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
He mentioned that Ukrainian forces have managed to capture several North Korean soldiers, but “their injuries are severe, and their lives cannot be saved.”
Zelensky also pointed out that the North Korean people “should not perish in the battles of Europe” and referenced the “impact” of North Korea’s neighboring country China (the Chinese Communist Party) on this war.
“If China’s statement that the war should not escalate is sincere, then pressure should be exerted on Pyongyang,” he said.