Zelenskyy Claims North Korea to Deploy 30,000–50,000 Troops to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on August 9–10 that North Korea has decided to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 soldiers to Russia, a significant increase from his July estimate of 30,000 troops. Zelenskyy stated that Russia can no longer wage war independently and is increasingly reliant on North Korean military support. He did not disclose how he obtained the figures, though Ukrainian military intelligence separately confirmed that a North Korean missile unit has begun deploying personnel and equipment to western Russia, potentially equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes against Ukraine.

Zelenskyy warned that the deployment represents a threat not only to Europe but also to Asian nations, including Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, as North Korea will gain military experience, technical expertise, and access to Russian military technology and licences. He called on South Korea to provide air defence systems and support Ukraine in drone technology, areas where Kyiv faces critical shortages. Ukrainian diplomats are reportedly in contact with Seoul to pursue potential defence cooperation agreements, though South Korea's constitution restricts military aid to warring nations to non-lethal assistance.

Pyongyang and Moscow have not publicly confirmed the troop deployment figures. North Korea signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Russia in June 2024, which includes mutual defence provisions. According to reports, approximately 14,000–16,000 North Korean soldiers have already been deployed to Russia's Kursk region since late 2024, with significant casualties reported, including around 600 killed in direct combat and a total of approximately 4,700 casualties including wounded. North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery, and multiple-launch rocket systems.

On the same period, a major Ukrainian drone strike hit targets over 600 miles deep inside Russian territory in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan region, killing at least 13 people, including seven Uzbek citizens and one child. The strike targeted the Taneco oil refinery and surrounding industrial and civilian infrastructure. A period of mourning was declared in the region. Separate Russian missile strikes during the same timeframe targeted Ukrainian cities including Kharkiv, Odesa, and Pavlohrad, killing and wounding civilians and damaging power infrastructure, residential buildings, and a WHO medical supply warehouse in Dnipro, prompting the WHO chief to denounce attacks on healthcare facilities.

Western countries have imposed sanctions against North Korean officials in response to military support to Russia. Britain and other nations have joined efforts to monitor sanctions enforcement after Russia vetoed continuation of a UN panel previously responsible for oversight. Meanwhile, Ukraine is pursuing weapons acquisitions including a reported deal with Turkey for 70 Atacms short-range ballistic missiles, 47,000 artillery rounds, 12 MLRS systems, and over 2,000 cluster bombs, pending US approval for resale of American-origin weapons.