North Korean deserters spark intrigue on Russia-Ukraine front
Moscow has reportedly created a "special Buryat battalion" composed of North Koreans, according to Ukrainska Pravda. The portal claims that eighteen of these soldiers have already fled from their positions on the border between the Bryansk and Kursk regions.
9:58 AM EDT, October 16, 2024
Sources within Ukrainian intelligence suggest that the North Korean soldiers were stationed about four miles from the front. The reasons for their desertion remain unclear. According to Ukrainska Pravda, Russian authorities have begun searching for these deserters.
It is also reported that Russian officials are attempting to conceal this information from their higher command.
The presence of North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region has been confirmed by the UNIAN agency, which cites its own sources in Ukrainian intelligence.
Koreans on the front line: Sources confirm
On Tuesday, Ukrainska Pravda shared information about Moscow's formation of a "special Buryat battalion" made up of North Korean citizens. This unit is reportedly part of the Russian army.
The unit's size is estimated to be around 3,000 personnel. According to Ukrainian sources, these soldiers are operating in the Sudzha area of the Kursk region.
Russian media has also covered reports of closer cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. On Monday, it was reported that Vladimir Putin submitted a bill to the Russian parliament to ratify a strategic partnership with North Korea. This agreement includes a provision for "military assistance," which the media links to plans to deploy North Korean soldiers to Ukraine.
