More than 20 soldiers lost their lives in a missile strike on October 3 in Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk, including six North Korean officers who were meeting with their Russian counterparts, according to intelligence sources from the Kyiv Post. Additionally, three North Korean servicemen were injured in the attack.
Reports from Russian social media indicated that before the missile strike, Russian forces were showcasing training exercises for assault and defense operations to the North Korean delegation.
Last year, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) noted the arrival of a small number of North Korean servicemen in the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine, including engineering units, highlighting the growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea. The Center for National Resistance (CNR) revealed in September 2023 that Russia intended to bring North Korean workers to the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk for construction projects.
Furthermore, following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June, Putin encouraged his counterpart to establish diplomatic missions in Donetsk and Luhansk.
The CNR assessed that North Koreans were invited to address labor shortages in these regions, a consequence of the Kremlin’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Earlier reports by the Kyiv Post stated that the missile strike on October 3 resulted in the deaths of over 20 soldiers, including six North Korean officers, while three others from the DPRK were injured.
Russian troops have held control of Donetsk since 2014, and military facilities supporting the Russian presence in the area have faced continuous attacks from Ukraine's Defense Forces. For instance, in December 2023, a fire broke out at a Russian base in Donetsk.
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