Zelensky Claims Ten Thousand More North Korean Soldiers Are Readying For Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that more than 8,000 North Korean troops are on Russian territory and that preparations are under way to deploy another 10,000. Citing "new data" on the deployment, he said the additional soldiers were "being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia." The claim adds a fresh figure to a running dispute over the scale of Pyongyang's role in the war. The numbers come from the Ukrainian president, and the material provided does not include independent verification or a response from Moscow or Pyongyang, so the estimates should be read as Kyiv's account of the situation.

The latest statement builds on earlier warnings from Ukraine about North Korea's growing military involvement. In August, Zelensky said that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could be sent to fight for Russia. Set beside that projection, the figures cited on Monday, more than 8,000 already in Russia and another 10,000 being readied, would represent a substantial but still partial fulfilment of the larger number he raised. The source does not say whether the new troops are expected to fight in Ukraine itself or to serve in other roles inside Russia, and it does not give a timeline for their deployment.

Zelensky's language suggests a structured process. By saying the soldiers were being selected for training and subsequent deployment, he pointed to an organised programme rather than an ad hoc transfer. He did not, in the remarks reported, describe where the training is taking place, who is conducting it or what units the troops would join. Such details are usually difficult to confirm independently, which is why claims of this kind tend to draw scrutiny from analysts and governments alike.

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The remarks also carry a diplomatic dimension involving South Korea. In the same August comments, Zelensky called on Seoul to provide support for Ukraine's air defence. South Korea announced a $100 million aid package for Ukraine in July, though it excluded lethal weapons. The package shows a willingness to assist Kyiv, but within limits that stop short of supplying arms. Ukraine's appeal for air defence support suggests it would like Seoul to go further, particularly as it warns of deepening North Korean involvement on Russia's side.

Monday's comments came as Seoul and Kyiv were at odds over Zelensky's announcement last week that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea. The source does not describe the nature of the disagreement or how either government has characterised the transfer. It also does not say what led Kyiv to hand over the prisoners or what South Korea intends to do with them. The dispute indicates that, even as the two governments share concern about North Korea's actions, their approaches to handling its personnel and to military assistance are not fully aligned.

Further clarity is likely to depend on whether Ukrainian officials release more detail behind the "new data," and on how South Korea, Russia and North Korea respond to the latest claims. Confirmation or denial from those governments, along with any independent assessments of troop numbers, would help establish how many North Korean soldiers are actually in Russia and how they are being used. Until then, the figures remain those put forward by Kyiv, and the state of relations between Seoul and Kyiv will be watched closely.

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