Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Russia is reportedly planning on recruiting additional foreign nationals to sustain the invasion of Ukraine.
When military personnel are deployed to foreign battlefields, the physical dangers of combat are a tragic but expected reality.
Governments typically train their forces to survive and return safely, even in the bleakest scenarios.
However, a different and much darker directive has now been officially acknowledged.
A grim confirmation
Multiple outlets, including Bloomberg, Reuters, and the BBC, report that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly validated a harsh state policy for his troops fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
These soldiers are required to take their own lives rather than allow themselves to be captured by the enemy.
This chilling mandate was confirmed during the inauguration of a new memorial in Pyongyang honoring North Korean casualties from the conflict in Ukraine.
During the ceremony, the North Korean leader praised personnel who destroyed themselves “without hesitation” in order to “protect the great honor.”
The same reports note that Kim stated these individuals “did not expect any reward” while achieving “outstanding feats.” The leader characterized their sacrifice as a “heroic death.”
Russia pushing foreign fighters
On April 28, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) released an intelligence report stating that Russia is planning to recruit nearly 20,000 foreign citizens to sustain its invasion of Ukraine.
According to the report, the Kremlin is recruiting from countries with high levels of poverty, such as Bangladesh, Sudan, Burundi, and Chad, as well as from Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan.
These numbers are allegedly in addition to the North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia—and more North Korean fighters are reportedly on their way to support Putin.
Cultivating extreme loyalty
Ukrainian intelligence officials noted in July 2025 that Pyongyang intended to dramatically expand its troop commitment by dispatching up to 30,000 additional soldiers.
The pressure on these units is intense. Previous reports from November 2025 revealed that Kim Jong Un ordered his deployed forces to use grenades to kill themselves to avoid capture.
According to earlier reports, commanders used slogans urging men to “learn from the warriors who blew themselves up” to secure “eternal life.”
Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters, BBC, Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine
