At least 50,000 North Korean troops headed to Russia, Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on X/Twitter that a decision has been made to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean troops to Russia. Zelensky did not specify the source of this information but noted a progression from initial reports of hundreds to thousands of troops.

This potential deployment comes amid ongoing reports of North Korea's military support for Russia's war efforts. In July, Zelensky mentioned that Russia was seeking an additional 30,000 North Korean troops. Since 2024, Pyongyang has reportedly provided between 11,000 and 14,000 troops to assist Moscow.

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At first, we were talking about hundreds, then thousands, and now a decision has been made for 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans to be deployed on the territory of Russia.

Beyond troop numbers, North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, and rocket systems. Ukrainian officials also reported that a North Korean missile unit has begun deploying to western Russia, potentially equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes against Ukraine.

Zelensky highlighted that North Korea gains valuable experience in modern warfare through this collaboration, potentially posing future threats to other Asian countries. He urged South Korea to enhance its cooperation with Ukraine, noting that Kyiv is open to drone deals and that diplomatic channels are active. Ukraine is currently facing a critical shortage of interceptor missiles to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks.

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It is absolutely clear that North Korea will continue to build its experience in modern warfare, receive licenses from Russia, and receive all kinds of military tools from them.