Zelensky: North Korea preparing to send 10,000 more troops to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that more than 8,000 North Korean soldiers are currently on Russian territory, adding that preparations are underway to deploy an additional 10,000 troops.

According to Zelensky, in a post on his X account, new data indicates that North Korean forces are being sent to Russia, stating: "They are being selected for training and will be deployed later in Russia."

View the post on X

In August, Zelensky said that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could be sent to fight alongside Russia, and called on South Korea to provide air defense support to Ukraine.

It is worth noting that Seoul announced a $100 million aid package for Kyiv in July, but excluded lethal weapons from the assistance.

Zelensky's remarks come after a dispute between Seoul and Kyiv following his announcement last week that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. Seoul expressed regret over the disclosure, citing an agreement to keep the transfer confidential.

According to Reuters, estimates from Kyiv and Seoul suggest that North Korea has sent between 14,000 and 15,000 soldiers to support Russia's war in Ukraine since 2024, with most deployed in the Kursk region to help repel Ukrainian incursions.

Ukrainian and independent assessments indicate that Pyongyang has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells and mortar rounds, as well as ballistic missiles, long-range artillery systems, and multiple rocket launchers.