North Korean soldiers caught in Russia: Selenskyj reveals details!

North Korean soldiers caught in Russia: Selenskyj reveals details!

On January 11, 2025, Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj reported that two North Korean soldiers were taken as a prisoner of war near the Russian city of Kursk. This information spread Selenskyj about social networks. Despite their injuries, the soldiers survived and were brought to Kiev, where the Ukrainian secret service began with the interrogations. Selenskyj announced that the press would soon be given access to the prisoners and emphasized how important it was that the world learns the truth about the events.

Selenskyj added that this was not the first case of caught North Koreans. In previous reports it could be seen that some soldiers died due to injuries. It is estimated that North Korea sent around 12,000 soldiers to Russia. The Russian military is currently increasing its units in the Kursk area with these North Korean forces. Ukraine and the United States estimate that a high number of these soldiers suffer severe losses.

Important information on the situation of prisoners of war

Selenskyj also presented photos that allegedly show the captured soldiers. However, the information about the identity of the soldiers has not yet been verified. The President emphasized the difficulty of catching North Korean soldiers alive, and pointed out that the Russian and North Korean military often kills injured North Koreans rather than taking them into captivity.

According to humanitarian international law, prisoners of war may not be publicly displayed. Reports about them are not prohibited, but their identification should be avoided. These regulations are anchored in the third Geneva agreement, which offers comprehensive protection to the prisoners of war and sets their rights. The regulations for the treatment of prisoners of war have been further specified over time.

The agreement clearly defines the conditions under which prisoners of war must be kept and ensure that they are treated with humanity under all circumstances. These protection regulations apply to members of the armed forces of a party involved in the conflict in international armed conflicts.