North Korean Troops in Russia: Ukraine's New Captures

Ukraine has caught two North Korean soldiers fighting with Russian forces in the Kursk region. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared this news on Telegram. These soldiers were injured but survived and are now talking to Ukrainian security services. This is a significant development as it's the first time Ukraine has claimed to capture North Korean troops since Russia sent them to help in the war. Russia has been trying to hide the presence of North Korean soldiers. They've even resorted to killing their wounded comrades to prevent capture. One of the captured soldiers said he thought he was going for training, not battle. He also mentioned his unit, comprised of North Koreans, only had a week of training with Russian troops before being sent to the front. Ukraine estimates that around 10, 000 to 12, 000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia. They've been fighting in infantry positions, both with Russian units and independently. Ukraine hopes controlling Kursk could force Russia to negotiate an end to the war. However, some officials worry this could weaken the entire 1000-kilometer (621-mile) front line. Apart from this, the U. S. has announced new sanctions against Russia's energy sector. President Zelenskyy welcomed these, hoping they would put financial pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. In other news, Ukrainian drones have been causing damage in Russia's Tambov province. Russia claims to have shot down 85 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine says it attacked Russia with 74 drones. This could suggest Ukraine is increasing its domestic weapons production.