North Korea plans to send 50,000 more troops to Russia by November, Ukraine intelligence reports

Ukraine's intelligence agencies have obtained information suggesting North Korea intends to deploy an additional 50,000 troops to Ukraine by November. This would represent a fivefold increase from the estimated 9,500 North Korean soldiers currently believed to be in Russia. The potential deployment is reportedly part of a Russian plan to occupy the eastern Donbas region by the end of the year.

If the plan materializes, North Korean forces would operate not only from their current location in Russia's Kursk region but also from bases in the Bryansk and Belgorod regions. This redeployment would allow Russia to shift its own troops to the front lines in Donbas. Ukrainian officials indicated that the deployment plan awaits final approval from Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Ukraine's intelligence suggests Russia needs North Korean support due to significant troop losses, with approximately 42,000 casualties reported in the Russian military last month alone. Separately, North Korea is suspected of providing Russia with 40 ballistic missiles and a 90-person missile unit deployed to the Voronezh region in southern Russia, which may have been used in attacks on Ukraine during July and August.

The deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia were formalized through a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty signed during a summit in Pyongyang in 2024. This treaty includes provisions for automatic military intervention in case of an emergency. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that a decision had been made to send 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean troops to Russia, prompting him to request air defense systems and other support from South Korea.

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The decision to deploy 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean troops to Russia has been made.