Captured Russian soldier reveals North Korean troops’ brutality and combat tactics
North Korean troops sent to Russia by dictator Kim Jong Un to fight against Ukraine are reportedly treated better than Russian soldiers and act independently without coordination, according to Russian serviceman Vidiya Chubrevich, who was captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.
"By evening, I saw the Koreans. They launched their own drone without informing anyone or notifying their commanders, and then started shooting at it. They train separately and don’t follow orders. The Koreans move forward, and we just secure the area behind them," Chubrevich said in a video released by Ukrainian defense forces operating in the Kursk direction.
Скриншот відео / InformNapalm / Telegram
The captured soldier also noted that North Korean troops are fed "twice as well" as Russian soldiers. While Russian troops receive barley porridge, North Korean soldiers eat eggs, chocolate, and drink coffee.
"The Koreans... they never smile, I don’t know... They’re harsh, there’s nothing human about them," Chubrevich added.
He claimed that "the Koreans are not right in the head." For instance, they shoot "at everything," including drones, without checking if they’re friendly or Ukrainian. They also move in tight groups of 5–10 people and avoid interaction with Russian troops.
Read also: 100+ dead, 1,000 injured: North Korea's grim toll in Ukraine war
"No one understands their language. They have a commander who knows a few words [in Russian], but I’ve never seen him. They can force you to carry ammunition for them. They can make you do anything, and it’s always under the threat of a gun," Chubrevich said.
Among Russian soldiers, opinions about the combat readiness of North Korean troops are mixed.
"Some say they’re well-trained. Others think they’re untrained and just reckless—they don’t even know where they are," the captured soldier added.
The prisoner also confirmed that North Korean troops have suffered casualties, especially from drone strikes. "They’re getting hit hard—10 or more at a time. But they’re not afraid, not at all. They keep advancing, and they’ll fire any weapon you give them," he said.
Chubrevich claimed the North Koreans collect their dead in piles, while Russian soldiers leave their wounded and dead behind on the battlefield.
North Korean troop losses in Kursk battles — What we know
On Dec. 14, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) reported that North Korean troops deployed by Russia for assaults in the Kursk region since November 2024 have already suffered losses due to successful Ukrainian counterattacks.
Read also: North Korea’s military units replenished after heavy losses in Kursk Oblast – HUR
On Dec. 15, Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s aerial reconnaissance unit, posted a video on his Telegram channel showing the bodies of 22 North Korean and Russian soldiers killed during an assault in the Kursk region on Dec. 14.
On Dec. 16, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence stated that North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in the Kursk region lost at least 30 soldiers killed or wounded between Dec. 14 and 15.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of trying to burn the faces of dead North Korean soldiers who fought against Ukrainian troops to hide their casualties.
The Associated Press, citing a senior U.S. military official, reported on Dec. 17 that several hundred North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in clashes with Ukrainian forces.
North Korean troops sent to Russia by dictator Kim Jong Un to fight against Ukraine are reportedly treated better than Russian soldiers and act independently without coordination, according to Russian serviceman Vidiya Chubrevich, who was captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.
"By evening, I saw the Koreans. They launched their own drone without informing anyone or notifying their commanders, and then started shooting at it. They train separately and don’t follow orders. The Koreans move forward, and we just secure the area behind them," Chubrevich said in a video released by Ukrainian defense forces operating in the Kursk direction.
Скриншот відео / InformNapalm / Telegram
The captured soldier also noted that North Korean troops are fed "twice as well" as Russian soldiers. While Russian troops receive barley porridge, North Korean soldiers eat eggs, chocolate, and drink coffee.
"The Koreans... they never smile, I don’t know... They’re harsh, there’s nothing human about them," Chubrevich added.
He claimed that "the Koreans are not right in the head." For instance, they shoot "at everything," including drones, without checking if they’re friendly or Ukrainian. They also move in tight groups of 5–10 people and avoid interaction with Russian troops.
Read also: 100+ dead, 1,000 injured: North Korea's grim toll in Ukraine war
"No one understands their language. They have a commander who knows a few words [in Russian], but I’ve never seen him. They can force you to carry ammunition for them. They can make you do anything, and it’s always under the threat of a gun," Chubrevich said.
Among Russian soldiers, opinions about the combat readiness of North Korean troops are mixed.
"Some say they’re well-trained. Others think they’re untrained and just reckless—they don’t even know where they are," the captured soldier added.
The prisoner also confirmed that North Korean troops have suffered casualties, especially from drone strikes. "They’re getting hit hard—10 or more at a time. But they’re not afraid, not at all. They keep advancing, and they’ll fire any weapon you give them," he said.
Chubrevich claimed the North Koreans collect their dead in piles, while Russian soldiers leave their wounded and dead behind on the battlefield.
North Korean troop losses in Kursk battles — What we know
On Dec. 14, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) reported that North Korean troops deployed by Russia for assaults in the Kursk region since November 2024 have already suffered losses due to successful Ukrainian counterattacks.
Read also: North Korea’s military units replenished after heavy losses in Kursk Oblast – HUR
On Dec. 15, Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s aerial reconnaissance unit, posted a video on his Telegram channel showing the bodies of 22 North Korean and Russian soldiers killed during an assault in the Kursk region on Dec. 14.
On Dec. 16, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence stated that North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in the Kursk region lost at least 30 soldiers killed or wounded between Dec. 14 and 15.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian forces of trying to burn the faces of dead North Korean soldiers who fought against Ukrainian troops to hide their casualties.
The Associated Press, citing a senior U.S. military official, reported on Dec. 17 that several hundred North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in clashes with Ukrainian forces.
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Summary
Russian serviceman Vidiya Chubrevich, captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region, revealed North Korean troops' independent combat tactics and treatment superiority. He stated they act without coordination, launch uninformed drone attacks, eat better rations, and do not interact with