North Korea has readied an additional 10,000 troops for deployment to Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, adding to an existing contingent of 8,000 personnel currently on Russian territory. Zelenskyy reported on X that these new forces are currently being selected for training before heading to the front lines, while also alleging that Moscow is providing military technology to Pyongyang, including technical support for Shahed-type attack drone manufacturing.
Deployment Numbers and Future Force Projections
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that beyond the 8,000 North Korean soldiers already inside Russia, authorities are selecting another 10,000 troops for upcoming training and deployment. This follows earlier assertions made by Zelenskyy in August, where he claimed Russia ultimately aims to secure between 30,000 and 50,000 total troops from North Korea, though those earlier figures lacked a specified intelligence source.
North Korea has previously dispatched roughly 14,000 soldiers to support Russian forces. Those earlier deployments actively participated in combat operations within Russia’s Kursk region. Ukrainian troops had previously crossed the border and seized portions of that territory before Russian forces, bolstered by North Korean units, drove them out over several months in 2025.
https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/2104645205190127636
Russian Mobilization and Foreign Recruits
Alongside foreign troop transfers, Moscow has quietly expanded its domestic and international recruitment pipelines. According to Zelenskyy’s statements, Russian authorities have initiated another mobilization wave, employing varied methods to increase troop intake. Plans are reportedly underway to ramp up the recruitment of foreign nationals into Russian ranks.
Zelenskyy urged governments of the countries supplying these foreign fighters to intervene and block the recruitment efforts. Kyiv intends to brief all relevant national governments on the matter to curb the influx of foreign personnel joining the Russian military.
Prisoner Transfers and International Reactions
Last week, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The move prompted a sharp response from Seoul, which characterized the disclosure as a leak of classified information and formally requested an apology.
South Korea maintains a strict policy against supplying direct military weapons to nations involved in active combat, though Seoul remains a key ally of Ukraine, providing humanitarian aid and other forms of support following the February 2022 invasion.
Did you know? South Korea previously accepted two North Korean soldiers captured on the Ukrainian battlefield who had expressed a desire to defect, leading to diplomatic friction over how details of the transfer were made public.
Common Questions About the Russia-North Korea Deployment
How many North Korean troops are currently in Russia?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that more than 8,000 North Korean soldiers are currently positioned on Russian territory, with preparations underway for an additional 10,000 troops.
What is North Korea receiving in return for its military support?
Zelenskyy stated that Russia is paying for North Korea’s military assistance with technology, including technical support that has enabled North Korea to begin manufacturing Shahed-type attack drones.
Where did North Korean forces previously fight in this conflict?
Approximately 14,000 North Korean troops previously deployed to support Russian forces in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces had established positions before being pushed out by Russian and North Korean units.