The Ukrainian Armed Forces reported the elimination of 18 North Korean soldiers.

In the Kursk region, soldiers from the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated 17 North Korean servicemen, while another one detonated himself, reports the press center of the Special Operations Forces on Monday.

“Warriors of the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine repelled the assault of North Korean troops, which lasted from morning until night [on Sunday] in Kursk. During this time, the rangers of the 6th Special Operations Regiment destroyed 17 North Korean military personnel, and one of them blew himself up with a grenade.

The report explains that the only Korean who survived the attack tried to confuse the Ukrainians and lure them to his positions to blow himself up along with them using a grenade.

“By dawn, a clearing group from the Special Operations Forces encountered one surviving North Korean soldier. He set an unsuccessful trap for the 6th Regiment rangers. The North Korean fighter attempted to deceive the Special Operations Forces warriors and detonate himself together with them using a grenade. When the SSO rangers approached him, he detonated himself,” the military recounted.

“The SSO fighters promptly noticed the danger and quickly retreated. None of them were injured,” the statement emphasizes.

At the end of last year, Ukraine and South Korea reported that Pyongyang had sent at least 10,000 servicemen to Russia.

The National Intelligence Service of South Korea stated on Monday that over 300 North Korean soldiers had died, and at least 2,700 were wounded.

Background. Meanwhile, Zelensky stated that he is ready to hand over the captured North Koreans to Kim Jong-un. He urged the North Korean leader to organize a prisoner exchange for Ukrainian soldiers.