Ukrainian intelligence recently released intercepted communications revealing that Russian soldiers expressed concerns and frustrations about the arrival of North Korean troops, code-named "Battalion K," in the Kursk region of Russia.
What are we to do with them?
The recordings, obtained from encrypted Russian channels on October 23, were shared with CNN by Ukraine’s military intelligence, according to Digi24.
In the audio, Russian soldiers reportedly refer to the North Korean arrivals with disdain, even using derogatory terms.
In one segment, a Russian soldier describes the confusion of a fellow officer assigned to "meet the arrivals," recounting how he was left unsure of how to proceed.
“He was just standing there, like… what the hell do we do with them?” one soldier is heard saying.
Question Practicality
The intelligence suggests that the North Korean troops, reportedly trained in Russia’s Far East, arrived in the Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a surprise incursion in early August.
According to the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Service, North Korean troops were scheduled to be deployed around October 27-28, with three senior officers and a translator assigned to manage each group of 30 soldiers.
Russian soldiers in the recording questioned the practicality of this plan, with one soldier asking where additional officers would be sourced.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Friday that he received a report about the deployment from Ukraine’s top commander, labeling the North Korean presence as a significant escalation by Moscow.
In his statement, Zelensky urged the international community to hold both Moscow and Pyongyang accountable for violating UN principles, adding that the deployment represents an active escalation, especially in light of Russia’s recent BRICS summit held in Kazan.
