Photo : Captured North Korean Solider. Source: EBU/Euronews
Photo : Captured North Korean Solider. Source: EBU/Euronews
By Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON THE GROUND
On 12 January, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the capture of North Korean soldiers stated that he was ready for a prisoner exchange in return for Ukrainians. He said: “Ukraine is ready to hand over Kim Jong-un’s soldiers to him if he can organise their exchange for our warriors who are being held captive in Russia.” He added from the investigation that, one of the soldiers had wished to return home and another wanted to remain in Ukraine.
On 11 January, Zelenskyy reported on Ukraine investigating the captured North Korean soldiers from Kursk. According to the Ukrainian special forces, the soldiers were interrogated by domestic intelligence with help from South Korea’s NIS intelligence agency. Russia and North Korea are yet to comment on the same. In the outcome of the investigation, the captured North Korean soldiers were found to be rifleman and scout snipers operating in the North Korean army since 2021 and 2016. The capture was also confirmed by South Korea’s intelligence agency. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andriy Sybiga said: “We need maximum pressure against regimes in Moscow and Pyongyang.”
On 11 January, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 74 drones across Ukraine. According to the report, 47 were countered and 27 had disappeared from the radar of the target. As a result, several buildings and vehicles were reported damaged by the drone debris.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 12 January, the Russian military claimed capturing two villages in eastern Ukraine. In the past few weeks, Russia has been observed to be advancing in the eastern Donetsk. According to Russian forces, Yantarne village located 10 kilometres southwest of Kurakove was captured last week and now an area in the northwest of Kurakhove was also captured. Along with this, Kalinove village in the northeastern Kharkiv Oblast was also taken over.
On 11 January, the Russian army reported on gaining control of a village, Shevchenko near a logistical centre of Pokrovsk. Ukraine’s military reported that Russia had launched 50 attacks on its forces in the past 24 hours without mention of the village. The Russian military claimed on its troops targeting using aircraft, drones, and missiles on Ukraine’s military airfields and energy facilities. The Governor of Donetsk, Vadym Filashkin confirmed on the death of one and the injury of four.
On 11 January, Russia’s Regional Head, Evgeny Pervyshov reported on Ukraine’s drone attacks across Russia in Tambov, Voronezh and Krasnodar oblasts, According to him, two houses were hit in Kotovsk town, 480 kilometres south-east of Moscow and Russian defence ministry claimed on intercepting 85 Ukrainian drones including 31 over Black Sea and 14 over Azov Sea.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and Europe
On 12 January, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced sending armed forces to the Baltic Sea to increase surveillance efforts due to suspicion of undersea cable damage. According to the reports, Sweden will contribute three warships and a surveillance aircraft to NATO to oversee critical infrastructure and Russia’s shadow fleet to protect against the underwater sabotage.
References
“Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv ready to swap North Korean soldiers for Ukrainian PoWs, Zelenskyy says,” The Guardian, 13 January 2024
“Russia claims to have seized two new villages in eastern Ukraine,” Aljazeera, 12 January 2025
Miranda Bryant , “Sweden neither at war nor at peace, says PM, as warships sent to Baltic Sea,” The Guardian, 12 January 2024
“Ukraine war briefing: Ukraine ‘captures two North Korean soldiers in Russia,” The Guardian, 11 January 2024
Emma De Ruiter, “Ukrainian Air Force says it shot down 60 Russian drones overnight,” Euronews, 12 January 2024
“Ukraine says questioning POWs it claims are North Koreans,” France24, 11 January 2024