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Russia seeks additional 30,000 North Korean soldiers to fight in Ukraine, Zelensky claims

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims Russia is seeking an additional 30,000 North Korean soldiers for its war.
  • Preparations are reportedly underway in Russia's Voronezh region to receive these troops, with North Korea also allegedly sending more ballistic missile launchers.
  • This alleged cooperation is seen as a threat not only to Ukraine but also to Asian nations within range of North Korean missiles, as Russia reportedly trains North Korea in warfare.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asserted that Russia is seeking to enlist an additional 30,000 North Korean soldiers to bolster its forces in the ongoing conflict. Zelensky stated that preparations are already in motion within Russia's Voronezh region to accommodate these new troops, with the process beginning in June.

Russia wants to receive another 30,000 troops from North Korea. Since June, preparations have been underway in Russia’s Voronezh region to receive them.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyZelensky's statement outlines the alleged scale of North Korean military support for Russia.

Beyond troop numbers, Zelensky also alleged that North Korea plans to supply Russia with more ballistic missile launchers. He characterized the deepening military cooperation between the two nations as Russia actively teaching North Korea "how to wage war, improve its weapons, and gain real combat experience." This exchange is viewed not merely as a bilateral arrangement but as a broader threat, extending to all of Asia within the range of North Korean missiles.

Russia is helping North Korea learn how to wage war, improve its weapons, and gain real combat experience in using them.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyZelensky describes the nature of the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.

Ukrainian intelligence estimates suggest that Pyongyang has already sent between 12,000 and 14,000 soldiers to aid Russia's assault on Kursk since 2024. Reports from April, citing South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence, indicated that as many as 6,000 of these soldiers may have died. International media has also reported on North Korean laborers sent to Russia under what are described as slave-like conditions, with accounts of workers facing extreme hours and inadequate medical care.

This is a threat not only to Ukraine. Russia is helping North Korea learn how to wage war, improve its weapons, and gain real combat experience in using them. All of this is a threat to everyone in Asia who is within range of North Korean missiles.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyZelensky emphasizes the broader regional implications of the Russia-North Korea military exchange.

North Korea has not officially disclosed its troop losses in Russia. However, its supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, has publicly mourned their sacrifices. According to KCNA, Kim praised the soldiers' "heroic army" and their "unique qualities," cementing their reputation. He reportedly "highly appreciated their feats of leading the combat units of our armed forces... to victory" in the Kursk Region.

Ours is a heroic army ... Our army has fully demonstrated its unique qualities. Such a result has cemented its appellation and reputation as the most powerful army in the world.

— Kim Jong UnKim Jong Un's statement praises North Korean soldiers participating in operations in Russia.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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