Russia Expands Mobilization as North Korea Deploys 8,000+ Soldiers to Aid Drone Production

Ukraine's President Zelensky reported that Russia has launched a new mobilization campaign including foreign recruitment, while 8,000+ North Korean soldiers are deployed to Russia and another 10,000 are in training. Russia and North Korea have established joint Shahed-type drone production, prompting warnings of escalating global security risks and leading to Russian military budget increases.

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Russia initiated new mobilization campaign including foreign recruitment
Putin signed decree increasing Russian Armed Forces by 15,500 personnel
Over 8,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russian territory
Additional 10,000 North Korean soldiers in training for deployment
Russia and North Korea established Shahed-type drone production line

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on September 28 that Russia has begun a new mobilization campaign to address severe personnel shortages on the frontlines, with plans to increase recruitment of both conscripts and foreign mercenaries. The announcement followed a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin that same day expanding the Russian Armed Forces by 15,500 personnel to a total of 2,441,630, marking the fourth military personnel increase ordered by the Kremlin in 2026 alone. Putin, who previously denied mobilization plans as "utter nonsense" in early September, provided no stated reason for the expansion.

Zelensky confirmed that over 8,000 North Korean soldiers are currently stationed on Russian territory, with an additional 10,000 in training and preparation for deployment. According to Ukrainian intelligence, this cooperation includes Russia providing technological support and funding in exchange for North Korean military assistance. Notably, the arrangement has facilitated the establishment of a Shahed-type drone production line on North Korean territory with Russian technical support, creating a coordinated weapons capability between Moscow and Pyongyang.

On September 29, Russian forces conducted a drone strike on Ukraine's Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv, killing one woman and injuring six others. The attack—one of multiple assaults on the capital in recent days—drew international condemnation, including a statement from Germany's Foreign Ministry condemning the strike as occurring near its embassy. Kyiv has faced intensified aerial bombardment over recent weeks, with reports indicating some of the highest daily Russian casualty rates of the entire conflict in mid-to-late September.

Meanwhile, Russian government budget documents revealed to Reuters show plans for military spending of 17.1 trillion rubles (approximately 178 billion euros) in 2027—a 27 percent increase from the originally budgeted 13.5 trillion rubles and the highest military expenditure since the war began. Total planned defense spending across 2026–2028 is projected at 50 trillion rubles. Zelensky called for Western countries to intensify sanctions against Russia and states cooperating with Moscow, warning that unchecked cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a growing global security threat.

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Politics World Ukraine War

#military budget #Russia-North Korea cooperation #Shahed drones #military personnel #North Korea soldiers #Russia mobilization #Ukraine war #Putin #Kyiv attacks #Zelensky

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Why This Matters

Russia's mobilization campaign and expanded force structure signal sustained military pressure on Ukraine's frontlines, while North Korean troop deployments and joint drone production represent a documented shift in weapons-supply dependencies affecting European and Indo-Pacific security calculations. Russian military budget increases to 17.1 trillion rubles (178 billion euros) for 2027—a 27 percent rise—indicate committed long-term military expenditure. Ukraine's intensified aerial attacks and reported casualty rates create measurable humanitarian consequences and may influence NATO assistance decisions and sanctions policy toward third-party suppliers.

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Jan 1, 2027

Wire

Planned Russian military spending at 17.1 trillion rubles (178 billion euros)

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