North Korea boosts support for Russia to include drone operators, Ukraine says

North Korea has significantly expanded its military support for Russia by sending a new contingent of approximately 8,500 troops, which includes a drone unit poised to strike targets within Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian intelligence official revealed.

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North Korea, who signed a NATO-style mutual defense pact with Russia two years ago, has been sending troops to assist Moscow’s military operations since late 2024 and may be asked to contribute up to 50,000 more when President Vladimir Putin meets his counterpart Kim Jong Un in September.

This deployment marks a substantial escalation in the military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, formalized by a mutual defense pact signed two years ago. Major General Vadym Skibitskiy, Deputy Head of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, indicated that Russia might request up to 50,000 additional North Korean soldiers when President Vladimir Putin meets with Kim Jong Un in September. This potential move comes at a critical time for Ukraine, which is facing severe shortages in air defense capabilities.

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Such a move would mark a significant expansion of Moscow and Pyongyang’s military cooperation and comes as Ukraine is running painfully short of air defenses.

The North Korean troops already stationed in Russia are primarily located in the Kursk region. The contingent includes engineers, deminers, and crucially, 400 drone operators. Many of these operators have prior experience from previous North Korean deployments, and their drones are expected to be utilized for both surveillance and offensive operations inside Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence suggests these troops will bolster Russia's rear lines, allowing more Russian soldiers to be deployed to the front.

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Kim’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, denied claims that tens of thousands more North Koreans would soon join Russia’s efforts, calling it a “groundless self-fabricated scenario.”

While North Korea's deepening ties with Russia are a cause for concern among NATO members, Pyongyang has officially denied reports of sending large numbers of additional troops. Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader's influential sister, dismissed such claims as "groundless self-fabricated scenarios." Despite these denials, Ukraine first reported North Korean attack drones being used on its territory last October, and this latest intelligence indicates a significant enhancement of their offensive capabilities.

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Ukrainian intelligence suggests North Korean troops sent to Russia will not fight on Ukrainian territory, Skibitskiy said, but will reinforce Russia’s rear positions, freeing up Russian troops for assaults inside Ukraine.