Russia to receive up to 30,000 North Korean troops for the Ukraine war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is preparing to host an additional 30,000 soldiers from North Korea, following a 2024 mutual‑defense treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang. The first contingent of roughly 12,000–14,000 North Korean troops has already been moved to Russia’s Kursk region, with infrastructure being readied in Voronezh for further arrivals from June.

Zelenskyy warned that the deployment could allow Russia to transfer combat experience and military technology to North Korea, raising security concerns across Asia. He said Kyiv will act to curb any spread of such capabilities, though specific measures were not detailed. The presence of North Korean forces adds a new layer to the conflict’s geopolitics, linking the war in Ukraine with broader Eurasian security dynamics.