Zelenskiy: North Korea Prepares 10,000 More Troops for Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Monday that over 8,000 North Korean troops are already on Russian territory, with preparations underway to deploy an additional 10,000 soldiers. Citing new data, Zelenskiy said the troops are being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia. He previously estimated up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could fight for Russia and urged South Korea to provide air defence support. The announcement follows tensions between Seoul and Kyiv over the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers, which South Korea said violated a confidentiality agreement. North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to Russia since 2024, mostly in the Kursk region, and supplied artillery, missiles, and rocket systems.