The Ukrainian leader claims that Russia has requested an additional 30,000 troops from North Korea along with several missile launchers to participate in the war against Ukraine.
Foreign news agencies reported on Sunday, 26 Jul 2026 GMT+7, that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed Russia has asked for an additional 30,000 personnel and missile launchers from North Korea to join the fight against his country.
Zelensky stated via a social media post late Saturday that preparations are currently underway to accommodate these additional forces in Russia's Voronezh region, which borders Ukraine.
North Korea has previously sent several thousand soldiers to assist Russia in repelling Ukraine's counterattacks in the Kursk region in 2024. It has also supplied military equipment to Russia since 2022 during the invasion of Ukraine.
South Korean sources report that approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers have died in this war.
“Russia wants to receive an additional 30,000 troops from North Korea. Since June, preparations have been made in Russia's Voronezh region to accommodate these soldiers,” Zelensky posted on X.
“North Korea is also preparing to deliver additional missile launcher platforms to Russia. This is not only a threat to Ukraine but also means Russia is helping North Korea learn warfare methods, improve weapon effectiveness, and gain real combat experience from using these weapons.”
“All of this poses a threat to every country in Asia within the range of North Korea’s missiles,” Zelensky emphasized.
Russia and North Korea signed a military assistance agreement in 2024, and North Korea reaffirmed its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine during North Korean Foreign Minister Cho Son-hui’s visit to Moscow last week.
North Korea’s official KCNA news agency reported after talks that Pyongyang expressed unwavering support for Russia’s internal and external policies to eliminate the root causes of the Ukraine conflict and to protect national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international justice.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his “appreciation” for North Korea’s support in a video released before Cho’s visit.
In return for military assistance, North Korea receives cash, military technology, as well as food and energy supplies to help it circumvent international sanctions designed to hinder its nuclear program.
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Source: cna