The audio messages, allegedly intercepted by Ukraine’s Security Service, are between a nurse in a Russian hospital and her husband – who claim there are hundreds of injured or killed North Korean soldiers filling Moscow’s hospitals
Leaked audio reveals serious losses to North Korean troops in Russia
Leaked voice recordings have revealed the chilling scale of North Korean losses in Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, with “several hundreds” of troops reportedly killed or wounded on the frontline in Kursk.
The audio messages, allegedly intercepted by Ukraine’s Security Service, are between a nurse in a Russian hospital and her husband, who is fighting in Kharkiv. During the call, the woman makes reference to hundreds of injured or killed soldiers filling Moscow’s hospitals.
The woman says: “Yesterday there was a train with about 100 people. Today, 120 others, making 200. How many more are there? God only knows.” She then complains that the language barrier between North Korean troops and Russian medics causes further problems – with medical staff using an online translator to speak to them.
A senior US military officer has also claimed “several hundred” North Korean’s fighting alongside Putin’s men have been killed or wounded in Kursk.
He said: “Several hundred casualties is our latest estimate that the DPRK has suffered.” He said this “would include everything from… light wounds up to being KIA [killed in action]”, and those injured had ranged in rank from lower-level troops to “very near the top”. The official added: “These are not battle-hardened troops. They haven’t been in combat before.”
It came after Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said North Korean troops were being used by Putin at the heart of an “intensive offensive” in Kursk over several days. The Ukrainian intelligence services also said “at least 30 [North Korean] soldiers were killed and wounded” in clashes over the weekend.
North Koreans were captured in haunting footage on Tuesday as they were hit by HIMARS missiles. Ukrainian military sources identified them as active soldiers in Kursk. A disturbing photo also emerged showing what is thought to be a rows of North Korean and Russian soldiers lying dead in the snow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the faces of killed North Korean soldiers are being burnt to hide Russia’s war losses. He said: “Russia is not only involving North Korean soldiers in assaults on Ukrainian positions but also trying to hide the losses of these people.
“After the battles with our guys, the Russians are also trying to… literally burn the faces of the killed North Korean soldiers. This is a demonstration of the contempt that now reigns in Russia – contempt for everything human.
“There is no reason for Koreans to fight and die for Putin.”