Zelensky Claims 8,000 North Korean Troops Are in Russia With 10,000 More Preparing to Deploy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says more than 8,000 North Korean soldiers are already in Russia and another 10,000 are in training, alleging that Moscow is providing technology for Shahed‑type attack drone production in return.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is accusing Russia of bringing in North Korean troops and trading military technology in exchange.
Zelensky said that more than 8,000 North Korean military personnel are currently in Russia. He added that another 10,000 are undergoing selection and training for subsequent deployment. He did not present evidence in the brief statement, and there has been no confirmation from Moscow or Pyongyang.
According to Zelensky, Russia is compensating North Korea by providing technical assistance that has allowed it to establish production of Shahed‑type attack drones. These are the same class of loitering munitions that Russia has used extensively in its strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
If confirmed, the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to Russia would mark a significant expansion of military cooperation between the two countries and raise new questions about enforcement of existing sanctions on Pyongyang’s military activities.
For Ukraine, any additional manpower on the Russian side could free up Russian units for frontline service or bolster rear‑area operations supporting the war effort. For states focused on North Korea’s own capabilities, alleged sharing of drone technology tested in Ukraine would be another concern.
The next indicators to watch are whether Western or Asian intelligence services publicly corroborate or dispute Zelensky’s figures, whether satellite or open‑source imagery picks up large‑scale North Korean troop movements toward Russia, and how governments in Seoul, Washington and Tokyo respond to the reported drone technology transfer.
Sources
- OSINT