Eighteen North Korean soldiers have reportedly deserted the Russian frontline, prompting Kremlin forces to launch a search for them, according to Ukraine's public broadcaster, Suspilne. The soldiers were stationed in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions, just four miles from the Ukrainian border, when they abandoned their posts. Intelligence sources cited by the broadcaster reveal that Russian commanders are now trying to keep the desertions hidden from higher authorities.
This development follows reports that Moscow was planning to form a battalion of North Korean troops, sent by Kim Jong Un, to assist in pushing back Ukrainian forces in Kursk. Ukrainian news outlet LIGA indicated that these soldiers were set to participate in combat missions in the southwestern regions of Ukraine, still heavily contested by Russian and Ukrainian forces.
The North Korean troops were expected to form a "special Buryat battalion," named after the Buryats, an ethnic group native to Siberia, Mongolia, and China. The strengthening of the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang has been ongoing, with both nations pledging to support each other if attacked. Earlier this year, Kim and Putin signed a strategic partnership agreement, akin to a mutual defense treaty, during Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years.
Recent intelligence from Ukraine claims that North Korean troops have already sustained casualties on the Russian frontline. Reports indicate that six North Korean officers were killed and three others injured during a strike in the Donetsk region on October 3. The injured officers were reportedly sent to Moscow for treatment.
The presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine has raised concerns, with South Korea’s Defense Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, warning that their deployment is highly probable given the military alliance between Russia and North Korea. He also confirmed reports of North Korean casualties, stating they were likely accurate.
In addition to combat support, North Korea has also been assisting Russia in construction efforts in Russian-occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk. Pyongyang has denied allegations of sending artillery to Russia throughout the ongoing war, despite accusations from the United States.
Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense and North Korea's Mission to the United Nations for comment on the situation.
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