Ukrainian special forces have revealed that North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia’s Kursk region have failed to grasp the threat posed by drones, leading them to become easy targets. Describing their behavior as “zombie-like,” Ukrainian Sergeant Mykhailo Makaruk of the 8th Special Operations Regiment shared his experience with Radio Free Asia (RFA) on December 17.
According to RFA, the 8th Special Operations Regiment posted a drone attack video on Facebook, claiming to have killed 50 North Korean soldiers. The video shows individuals, believed to be North Korean troops, attempting to flee or hide behind trees when confronted by a first-person-view (FPV) drone.
Sergeant Makaruk described the encounter, stating, “About 200 of them approached our base, firing their guns while moving like zombies as drones hovered above. They were easy targets for us. Their actions were so reckless it was hard to comprehend — they truly moved like zombies.”
Reports from Ukrainian and U.S. intelligence indicate that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to aid Russia in its efforts to reclaim control of the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces.
Makaruk criticized the North Korean soldiers’ tactics, saying, “Their combat approach resembles the typical Soviet military style from the 1950s and 60s. They seemed unaware of what an FPV drone signifies. They likely thought they would be unseen if they lay on the ground or hid behind trees. It appears they have no knowledge of remote-controlled technology.”
FPV drones used by the Ukrainian military are reportedly capable of reaching speeds of up to 150 km/h (approximately 93 mph), making them highly effective for precision strikes.
Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, echoed Makaruk’s analysis. In a Telegram post, he remarked, “The North Korean soldiers who died clearly did not understand the seriousness of drones. This implies that Russia failed to properly inform the North Korean troops about drones on the battlefield.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also addressed the situation on his X (formerly Twitter) account, sharing drone footage of presumed North Korean soldiers. “Unfortunately, we now have to fight against North Korean troops. There is no reason for North Korean soldiers to die in this war. The sole reason for their deaths is Putin’s madness, which has escalated this conflict,” he stated.
On the same day, a U.S. official confirmed reports of hundreds of North Korean troop casualties during battles with Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region. According to Reuters, the U.S. official noted that the casualties included soldiers ranging from low-ranking personnel to those in ranks “very close to the top.”
“Several hundred casualties is our latest estimate that the DPRK has suffered,” the official said on condition of anonymity, Reuters reported.
BY HAYJUNE LEE, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
