Zelensky says Russia to receive 30,000 North Korean troops

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia is preparing to receive an additional 30,000 North Korean troops for its war effort, marking a significant escalation in the military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang. Zelensky made the claim in a social media post on July 25, saying preparations to receive the troops have been underway in Russia's Voronezh region since June. He also asserted that North Korea is preparing to transfer additional launchers for ballistic missiles to Russia.

The potential deployment would build upon existing North Korean military support. According to Ukrainian assessments, North Korea previously sent thousands of troops to aid Russian operations, primarily in the Kursk region, beginning in 2024. Estimates of the number of North Korean personnel already deployed have varied, with figures ranging from 12,000 to 20,000. Zelensky framed the deepening cooperation as a broader regional threat, arguing that Russia is helping North Korea gain real combat experience and improve its weapons systems, which poses a danger to all Asian nations within range of North Korean missiles.

The announcement follows recent high-level diplomatic contact...