The U.S. on Friday disclosed that North Korean soldiers helping Russian to fight against Ukraine are resorting to taking their lives rather than surrendering to Ukrainian forces.

According to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, these actions were “likely out of fear of reprisal against their families in North Korea in the event that they’re captured.”

Kirby revealed that at least more than 1,000 North Korean soldiers have died just in the past week.

“These North Korean soldiers appear to be highly indoctrinated, pushing attacks even when it is clear that those attacks are futile,” he said.

Recall that to supplement its counterattack, Russia had turned toward its North Korea ally which has so far deployed an estimated 11,000 soldiers in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram on Friday that at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers have died or been wounded in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces mounted a lightning incursion in August.

The exact number of North Korean soldiers who killed themselves to avoid capture is unclear. Zelenskyy said that while “several” North Korean soldiers were captured, they were “seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated,” suggesting that some of them may have also been killed by comrades.

These troops were being sent to fight with “minimal protection,” he said, and were suffering a “great deal” of losses.

Still, Ukrainians have been unable to capture them as prisoners, he added. “Their own people are executing them.”