Zelenskyy says North Korea prepares to send 10,000 more troops to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that over 8,000 North Korean troops are already in Russia, with preparations underway to deploy an additional 10,000 soldiers, escalating Moscow's military capacity in the ongoing war. Zelenskyy cited new data on troop selection and training, reiterating his August warning that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could eventually fight for Russia. He also urged South Korea to provide air defence support for Ukraine. The announcement follows diplomatic friction between Seoul and Kyiv over the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers, which South Korea said violated a confidentiality agreement. North Korea has reportedly sent 14,000 to 15,000 troops to Russia since 2024, mostly in Kursk, and supplied artillery, missiles and rocket systems.