North Korea preparing to send large military contingent to Russia, Ukraine intelligence claims

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) has warned that North Korea is preparing to send another large contingent of its soldiers to Russia. Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of HUR, stated in an interview with the BBC that while Kyiv lacks information on whether these troops will engage in combat on the Ukrainian front, the potential deployment signifies a deepening military partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.

According to HUR data obtained by the BBC in August, approximately 8,500 North Korean soldiers are currently stationed in Russia. These soldiers are integrated into four brigades within the Russian military structure. Their primary role involves guarding Russian state borders, rather than participating directly in combat operations in Ukraine. The average age of these soldiers is 30, and the contingent undergoes regular rotation. Since 2024-2025, a total of 23,000 to 25,000 North Korean soldiers have been involved in this operation.

Skibitskyi indicated that the number of North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia could potentially rise to between 30,000 and 50,000. He stressed that the main task for these forces is the defense of Russian territory, which requires substantial logistical support, preparation of military facilities, and engineering work. The HUR deputy chief questioned the implications of such a deployment, stating, "We do not have any documents or plans from the Russian Federation regarding the deployment of this unit (soldiers from North Korea) on our territory. Because what does it actually mean? It is the actual participation of a third state in the war waged on our territory."

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Today, according to our information, between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean soldiers may be deployed on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The cooperation between Russia and North Korea has intensified significantly since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began over four years ago. Since 2022, North Korea has provided various forms of support to Russia, including ballistic missiles and artillery shells. Notably, around a thousand North Korean soldiers reportedly participated in combat alongside Russian forces in Russia's Kursk region during the Ukrainian military operation in 2024-2025.

Skibitskyi suggested that the presence of North Korean troops on the Ukrainian front could provide Pyongyang with valuable insights into drone warfare. He also noted that the partnership has already led to improvements in North Korea's ballistic missile production technology. The growing alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang is a cause for serious concern.

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We do not have any documents or plans from the Russian Federation regarding the deployment of this unit (soldiers from North Korea) on our territory. Because what does it actually mean? It is the actual participation of a third state in the war waged on our territory.