"Confused" North Korean Infantry Abandoned as Russian Armored Vehicles Flee

"No training provided, so hands and feet don't coordinate"

In the Kursk region of Russia, where North Korean troops are reportedly deployed, a scene has drawn attention in which a Russian armored vehicle appears to retreat, leaving behind North Korean soldiers during a firefight.

According to Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 2nd (local time), a Ukrainian military drone camera recently captured footage of a Russian BTR-82 armored vehicle withdrawing from the battlefield, leaving behind soldiers presumed to be North Korean. The footage has been shared on social media platforms and foreign news outlets.

The video was reportedly filmed last month about 4 km south of Kalinov village in the Kursk region. Kursk is a border area between Ukraine and Russia, where intense clashes between the two armies are currently taking place following a Ukrainian offensive.

Russian armored vehicles retreating, leaving behind North Korean soldiers [Image source=Capture from X]

In the video, three armored vehicles near some trees provide cover fire with their machine guns for the infantry. However, the infantry appear disorganized and confused, failing to form ranks, and eventually, the armored vehicles retreat, leaving the infantry behind. North Korean soldiers, realizing the armored vehicles are withdrawing late, start running to follow them.

Experts suggest that the footage indicates communication problems between the Russian and North Korean troops. Most of the deployed North Korean soldiers are infantry veterans unfamiliar with Russian mechanized infantry tactics and are reportedly experiencing difficulties in receiving orders.

Lee Il-woo, Secretary General of the Autonomous Defense Network, explained in an interview with the media, "The armored vehicles moved near the wooded area and fired their machine guns while ordering the infantry on board to disembark. The infantry got off the vehicles but instead of advancing, they just lay down beside the vehicles in confusion, while the armored vehicles turned away without protecting the infantry."

He added, "It is presumed that this happened due to a lack of communication between the Russian soldiers driving the armored vehicles and the North Korean troops riding them. The Russian military doctrine, which is based on moving with vehicles or armored vehicles, may be alien to the North Korean infantry."

Lee also pointed out, "Since they were deployed without any training, most North Korean soldiers will likely show a lack of coordination with the Russian forces and break ranks, as seen in this video. It would be fortunate if Russia at least provides armored vehicles."