Zelenskyy: Russian Forces Burn Faces of North Korean Soldiers to Conceal Their Identity

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shared new details about the treatment of North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia, revealing that their faces are being burned to prevent them from being recognized.

In an interview with Lex Fridman, Zelenskyy stated, “They invited North Korean soldiers. Their faces are burned. They [Russians] burn their faces. Those who cannot escape—injured or killed.”

The President explained that Russian forces are deliberately inflicting facial burns on these soldiers to mask their identity.

Zelenskyy also mentioned that there is video evidence to support these claims. “Everything I am telling you, there is evidence of this,” he said.

This disclosure comes as part of a broader picture of Russia’s use of North Korean recruits in its war effort. Zelenskyy has previously reported that thousands of North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded while fighting for Russia, as Moscow increasingly relies on foreign soldiers to bolster its ranks.

Zelenskyy also disclosed that approximately 3,800 North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia have been killed or injured in the war. He warned that Russia could deploy even larger numbers of North Korean soldiers to the frontlines, stating, “Up to 30-40 thousand, or even 500 thousand North Koreans could come to fight with us.”