The Ukrainian intelligence service is actively trying to get North Korean soldiers to desert with the help of leaflets and online videos. This initiative, known as the “I want to live” project, was originally aimed at Russian soldiers who did not want to participate in the war but has now expanded to target North Korean troops who have joined Moscow’s forces in regions like the Kursk border region. So far, 350 Russian soldiers have surrendered to the Ukrainian side through the project.
The project involves dropping flyers that show enemy troops how to surrender and escape the fighting. Vitalyiy Matvienko, a volunteer at the project, stated that not everyone wants to fight and that the harsh living conditions in North Korea may motivate some soldiers to see desertion as a chance to escape the regime and seek a better life in another country.
Reports indicate that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in the border region of Kursk, and some have already participated in combat against Ukraine’s defense forces. The Ukrainian General Staff is working to convince these soldiers to defect and surrender to Ukrainian forces.
This effort comes as Russia continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Ukrainian authorities are seeking to weaken the enemy’s forces by encouraging desertion and defection among their ranks. The “I want to live” project represents a new tactic in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
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