The commander, who goes by the codename “Puls”, mentioned Kim Jong Un’s males have been seemingly both studying classes from errors made throughout their first, bloody clashes with Ukrainian troopers, tending to their wounded or ready for reinforcements.
“I think they’ll be back soon,” he mentioned, talking at a secret base in northeastern Ukraine.
Picture:
A Ukrainian soldier takes forensic samples from the physique of a North Korean on the battlefield
Interviews with a number of Ukrainian troops reveal exceptional particulars about how the North Koreans have been combating since they arrived on the battlefield within the Russian area of Kursk final month. This contains:
• An obvious preliminary lack of expertise in regards to the threats from drones and artillery, with North Korean troopers attacking on foot “like something out of World War Two” in teams of 20, 40 and even 60 males, making themselves straightforward targets
• “Brainwashing” which suggests they maintain pushing ahead regardless of being beneath Ukrainian fireplace and with comrades being killed and wounded round them
• A want to take away proof of their presence from the warzone, with North Koreans in white helmets noticed making an attempt to get well the wounded and the lifeless
• A refusal to be taken alive, with claims that North Koreans have been seen blowing themselves up with grenades moderately than threat seize. Puls even claimed a North Korean has been heard shouting “For General Kim Jong Un” earlier than killing himself
• Poor coordination between North Korean and Russian forces due to the language barrier. One soldier claimed radio intercepts revealed North Koreans unintentionally focused Russian positions. He additionally mentioned they might storm Ukrainian positions, struggling losses, however Russian troops would then fail to use the good points
• Higher equipment than many Russians, together with rifles and uniform, however an absence of heavy armour, with North Koreans solely transferring on foot and utilizing golf buggies to move ammunition.
“They were all clean-shaven and perfectly groomed, like models,” mentioned Puls.
“Every single one – no beards, unkempt hair, or bald heads… It was also hard to determine their age. They all looked between 25 and 35, maybe up to 40.”
Picture:
Ukrainian particular forces in the course of the operation
North Korean troop deployment not formally confirmed
Ukraine and its Western allies say Pyongyang has despatched 11,000 troops to affix Russia’s warfare, specializing in bolstering infantry strains within the Kursk area the place Ukrainian troops captured swathes of territory in a daring invasion final August.
Neither Kim Jong-Un nor Vladimir Putin have formally confirmed the deployment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed final week that some 4,000 North Korean troopers have already been killed or injured.
Picture:
A Ukrainian commander, who goes by the codename ‘Puls’
Puls instructions the first Fight Divers Battalion of Particular Operations Forces.
His elite commandos have been tasked with capturing DNA samples and paperwork from a unit of about 25 North Korean troopers who have been killed in a drone and artillery barrage a couple of fortnight in the past inside Kursk.
Picture:
Samples of saliva and hair are taken from lifeless North Koreans
Forensic samples taken
Ukrainian troopers will be seen fastidiously sticking cottonwool buds into the mouths of lifeless North Korean troops to take samples of saliva and place them in an proof bag.
They then take away the troops’ helmets, chopping clumps of hair and bagging them as effectively.
As well as, physique armour is reduce away so the Ukrainians can extra simply entry the paperwork and different objects on every soldier, together with navy identification playing cards, canine tags, handwritten notes and pictures.
Picture:
There was additionally proof of family members again residence
‘North Koreans solely had ammo and chocolate’
Considered one of Puls’s males, who took half within the operation and goes by the codename “Trainer”, mentioned he was stunned that the North Koreans solely had ammunition and chocolate as provides to maintain them within the combat.
“Not a single soldier had a water bottle,” he mentioned.
“They rely on the idea that they will storm through, take positions, and then eat and survive off our supplies.”
Requested what private belongings he discovered, Coach mentioned: “There were letters. Of course, there were notebooks, notes. There were hand-drawn maps… There were photos of children, mothers, letters they tried to send home.”
Picture:
Navy identification playing cards have been Russian, suggesting a bid to cover the true ethnicity of the troops
The navy identification playing cards have been Russian – a seemingly clumsy try to cover the true ethnicity of the troopers.
Coach mentioned a few of the notes gave the impression to be of troopers’ experiences in battle. He mentioned it appeared as if they have been making an attempt to be taught from their publicity to fashionable warfare.
“It’s the experience they are accumulating for their country, for conflicts they might face in the future,” he mentioned.
North Koreans ‘extra disciplined’
Puls described how the North Koreans fought otherwise from the Russians.
“They are far more disciplined, with exceptional morale and determination – completely brainwashed, really,” he mentioned.
Puls mentioned a couple of fortnight in the past he seen the North Koreans pulling again.
“The Russians are standing, working everywhere along the frontline, but no Koreans,” he mentioned.
“Either they’re analysing their mistakes, or tending to their wounds, or maybe they’re waiting for reinforcements. There’s talk that Kim Jong-Un is sending more North Koreans here. That’s the situation.”
He mentioned intercepted Russian communications appeared to point they might be returning.
“They’re still present, training or waiting for reinforcements. Something is happening, they’ll be back soon.”
