At dusk one afternoon last week, two dozen wounded North Korean soldiers were brought to one of the main hospitals in the Russian city of Kursk.
They were ushered into a specially designated floor, guarded by police, with access limited to translators and medical personnel.
"We were told in the morning to prepare for a special type of patient," said one of the medical staff at the hospital. "We'd heard rumors that North Koreans were fighting there, but I didn't believe it. No one had actually seen them before," the medic said. "I thought it was all fake news until they arrived."
The medic said most of them had shrapnel injuries. A second medic at the scene said communication was "impossible" without translators. They added that some North Koreans looked "frightened and nervous". Both requested to speak on condition of anonymity, fearing retribution.
The arrival of the North Korean patients marked a rare moment of interaction between locals in the Kursk region and North Korean soldiers, whose presence remains shrouded in secrecy.
Up to 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to assist Russia in the war, according to US and South Korean officials. Most of these forces have been involved in Moscow's counteroffensive to reclaim Russian land in the Kursk region, a territory Ukraine has held since the summer after a surprise incursion.
Russia has not officially acknowledged the deployment of North Korean soldiers. During his annual press conference last week, president Vladimir Putin listed by name several units active in the fighting in the Kursk region but conspicuously avoided any mention of the North Koreans.
However, early signs suggest that North Korean troops may be suffering heavy casualties.
This story is from the December 27, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the December 27, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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