Zelenskyy Says North Korea Preparing to Send 10,000 More Troops to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said North Korea is preparing to deploy another 10,000 troops to Russia, as Moscow continues to rely on foreign personnel and military support in its war against Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukrainian intelligence had received new information indicating that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are currently on Russian territory. He added that another 10,000 personnel are being selected for training before being sent to Russia.

The Ukrainian president made the claim in a post on X and during his evening address, where he also said Russia was expanding its recruitment efforts and seeking to bring more foreign nationals into its armed forces.

North Korean Troops Already Supporting Russia

North Korea has been providing military support to Russia since 2024. Ukrainian and South Korean estimates cited by Reuters put the number of North Korean troops sent to support Moscow's war effort at between 14,000 and 15,000, with many deployed in Russia's Kursk region.

Pyongyang has also supplied Russia with artillery and mortar ammunition, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery systems and multiple-launch rocket systems, according to Ukrainian and independent assessments.

Zelenskyy said in August that as many as 50,000 North Korean soldiers could eventually be sent to support Russian forces.

Russia-North Korea Military Cooperation Expands

Zelenskyy also claimed that Russia is providing military technology to North Korea in return for its support. He said production of Shahed-type attack drones has been established in North Korea with Russian technical assistance. The claim has not been independently verified.

The developments point to a broader military relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang, with personnel, weapons and technology forming part of the cooperation.

Tensions With South Korea

Zelenskyy's latest comments come amid a separate disagreement between Kyiv and Seoul over two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine recently transferred the two prisoners to South Korea. Seoul subsequently criticised Kyiv for publicly announcing the transfer, saying it had been covered by a confidentiality agreement. Ukraine disputed Seoul's account of the agreement, creating tensions between the two countries.

South Korea has provided financial assistance to Ukraine but has excluded lethal weapons from its aid package. Zelenskyy has also called on Seoul to provide additional assistance, particularly for Ukraine's air-defence capabilities.

The latest warning comes as Russia continues expanding its military recruitment efforts and Ukraine faces sustained missile and drone attacks. Zelenskyy has urged international partners to respond with additional sanctions and military assistance as the war continues.