Zelensky: Russia Plans to Engage 30,000 North Korean Soldiers
Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia plans to enlist 30,000 soldiers from North Korea.
- Preparations for their arrival in Russia's Voronezh region have been ongoing since June.
- Zelensky warned that this move not only threatens Ukraine but also aids North Korea in gaining combat experience and poses a risk to Asian nations within missile range.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed intelligence indicating Russia's intention to recruit an additional 30,000 soldiers from North Korea. According to Zelensky, preparations to receive these troops in Russia's Voronezh region have been underway since June.
Preparations are underway since June in the Russian region of Voronezh to receive them. North Korea is also preparing to transfer additional ballistic missile launchers to Russia.
This alleged plan involves not only the deployment of North Korean personnel but also the transfer of additional ballistic missile launchers from Pyongyang to Russia. Zelensky articulated his concerns on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Zelensky emphasized that this collaboration extends beyond a direct threat to Ukraine. He asserted that Russia is effectively assisting North Korea in refining its warfare tactics, improving its weaponry, and acquiring crucial combat experience through the use of these arms. This, he warned, constitutes a threat to all nations in Asia that fall within the range of North Korean missiles.
This is not only a threat to Ukraine, but Russia is helping North Korea learn how to wage war, improve its weapons, and gain real combat experience in using these weapons.
This is not the first instance of alleged military cooperation between the two nations. North Korea has previously been accused of supplying Russia with soldiers, missiles, and ammunition to support its ongoing war in Ukraine. Reports suggest these North Korean soldiers were deployed in Russia's western Kursk region, an area that was under Ukrainian occupation for nearly a year, from August 2024 until the spring of 2025.
All of this is a threat to everyone in Asia who is within range of North Korean missiles.
Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.