Ukrainian intelligence allegedly intercepted conversations between Russian officers about North Korean military personnel sent to Russia. Fragments of transcripts of the recordings were published by CNN. The station noted that the alleged Russians “speak contemptuously about arriving North Korean soldiers under the codename 'K Battalion,' at one point calling them 'fucking Chinese'.” The analysis of the recordings will also reveal the planned movements of the newcomers' forces.
On Friday, CNN published fragments of the transcript of a conversation between Russian military officials that was allegedly intercepted by Ukrainian intelligence. In the recording, they are said to express concerns about how North Korean soldiers will be led and concerns about supplying them with ammunition and military equipment.
As the portal reports, “Russian soldiers speak contemptuously about the arriving North Korean soldiers, under the codename 'K Battalion', at one point calling them 'fucking Chinese'.”
One of the Russians describes that another was tasked with meeting the newcomers. “He comes here and says what the hell should I do with them?” – can be heard on the recording.
“Three senior officers out of 30 people. Where will we get them?” Russians with concerns
The audio recording also shows that there will be one translator and three Russian officers for every 30 North Korean soldiers. These plans are condemned by alleged Russian officers overheard.
“The only thing I don't understand is that (there should be) three senior officers for 30 people. Where will we get them? We will have to get them from somewhere,” you can hear in the recording. “I'm telling you, 77 battalion commanders are coming tomorrow. There are commanders, deputy commanders and so on,” says another soldier.
War in Ukraine. As of October 25, 2024PAP
Relocation of Koreans to the Kursk Oblast
The contents of the conversations were allegedly intercepted from encrypted Russian transmission channels on the night of Wednesday, October 23.
According to CNN, an analysis of the recordings made by the Ukrainian side showed that the movements of North Korean troops were planned for the morning of Thursday, in the area of the field camp in the town of Postoyallye Dvory in the Kursk Oblast in Russia. This is an area bordering Ukraine, where the Ukrainian offensive has been ongoing since August.
And on Thursday, Ukrainian intelligence reported that the first North Korean soldiers had already been sent to the Kursk region. Intelligence reported that among the 12,000 military personnel of Kim Jong Un's army there are 500 officers and three generals. “The soldiers sent by Pyongyang are provided with ammunition, bedding, winter clothes and shoes, and personal hygiene products. Moscow will allocate each North Korean soldier 50 meters of toilet paper and 300 grams of soap per month, in accordance with established standards,” the statement added.
On Friday, it was the president's turn Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he had received a report from the Supreme Commander of Ukraine on the deployment of North Korean soldiers. It follows from them that they will stay included in the fighting in the Kursk region on Sunday or Monday.
On the same day, the General Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine announced that it had opened an investigation into whether North Korea's support for Russia in the war constituted a crime of aggression.
Main photo source: KCNA VIA KNS