Zelenskyy warns that up to 50,000 North Korean troops may be deployed in Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia plans to deploy 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean troops on its territory. Zelenskyy cautioned that Pyongyang is using the war as a live-fire classroom to master modern warfare techniques like drone operations and electronic warfare, which could destabilize the Pacific region. In response, Kyiv is actively lobbying South Korea for advanced air defense systems, offering drone technology in return, while navigating Seoul's constitutional limits on foreign military aid.

North Korean troops in Russia

• ▪South Korean intelligence estimated that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops were stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast at the start of 2026, with around 6,000 having died in the conflict by March 2026.
• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on August 8, 2026, that a decision has been made to deploy 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean troops to the territory of Russia.
• ▪North Korea previously sent an estimated 14,000 soldiers to Russia's Kursk Region in 2024 to assist Russian forces in countering a Ukrainian military incursion.
• ▪Ukrainian military intelligence reported in August 2026 that a North Korean missile unit is deploying to western Russia, potentially equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers.

Modern warfare training gains

• ▪Under a rotation system, nearly 3,000 North Korean troops had returned home by early 2026 to serve as military instructors and pass on battlefield lessons to the wider North Korean army.
• ▪President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that North Korea will receive military licenses and various military tools from Russia in exchange for its deployment support.
• ▪President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that North Korean forces will gain critical experience in modern warfare, including drone operations, artillery coordination, and electronic warfare, while deployed in Russia.

Ukraine-South Korea defense cooperation

• ▪President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged South Korea to establish closer defense cooperation with Ukraine, specifically requesting support in air defense systems to address Ukraine's critical shortages.
• ▪President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that South Korea has constitutional and legal restrictions on providing direct military assistance to foreign states, but Ukrainian diplomats remain in contact with Seoul to pursue potential deals.
• ▪Ukraine has offered to share its own battlefield experience and drone expertise with South Korea in exchange for military and air defense support.

Russian covert mobilization plans

• ▪President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on August 8, 2026, that Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing a major, covert mobilization to increase troop numbers without declaring an official draft.
• ▪President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to secure a tangible victory in the Donbas region to sell to the Russian public through shadow contracts and border restrictions.