Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is preparing to deploy an additional 10,000 North Korean troops to support its war efforts in Ukraine, adding to the current estimate of about 8,000 already there. This news comes as Russian president Vladimir Putin issued a decree increasing the size of his military by 15,500 active servicemen, raising the total to 2.4 million personnel. The article highlights growing concerns over North Korea's involvement in the conflict and its strategic support for Russia through troops and weaponry.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-29,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on September 28 that North Korea has over 8,000 troops currently deployed to Russia, with preparations underway for an additional deployment of up to 10,000 more soldiers. Zelensky cited "new data" suggesting these North Korean forces are being trained and then sent to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine. This claim was made amid tensions between Kyiv and Seoul over the public announcement by Ukraine about transferring two captured North Koreans back to South Korea without maintaining confidentiality as agreed upon.
South Korea previously announced a US$100 million aid package for Ukraine, excluding lethal weapons. The deployment of these troops highlights Russia's efforts to bolster its forces through foreign enlistment and underscores concerns over the scale and nature of military support in the ongoing conflict.
Written for “North Korea Troops Russia War” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Russia is preparing to deploy 10,000 additional North Korean troops on top of the existing 8,000 fighting in Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, said Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
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Zelensky → prepare → Ukraine
Citing "new data", Mr Zelensky said in a post on X North Koreans were "being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia”.
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Koreans → cite → Russia
In a latest presidential decree on Monday, the Russian president ordered increasing the size of the army to 1.55 million active servicemen.
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president → order → servicemen
The number of uniformed personnel will increase by 15,500, while raising the strength of the armed force to 2.4 million, according to the decree.
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number → increase → decree
While the decree does not give a reason for the increase in troop size, it comes as both sides suffer mounting casualties in the war.
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sides → give → war
It also instructed the Russian government to allocate funds to the Ministry of Defence to carry out the increase.
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It → instruct → increase
This marks the fourth increase in the military’s authorised strength in seven months after March, June and July, reported Russian and English-language news website Meduza.
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Meduza → mark → March
According to the outlet, together, the four increases added 52,500 defence personnel including, 50,500 service members.
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increases → accord → members
Earlier last year, Mr Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had confirmed for the first time that North Korean troops were sent to Russia to fight the war in Ukraine, with both the leaders referring to them as “heroes”.
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leaders → confirm → heroes
North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine since 2024, according to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates, with most deployed in the Kursk region to help repel a Ukrainian incursion.
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most → send → incursion
Pyongyang has also supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar rounds, as well as ballistic missiles, long-range artillery systems and multiple-launch rocket systems, according to Ukrainian and independent assessments.
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Pyongyang → supply → assessments
In August, the Ukrainian president said up to 50,000 North Korean troops could be sent to fight for Russia as he called on South Korea to provide aerial support.
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he → say → support
South Korea announced in July a $100m aid package for Ukraine, although it excluded lethal weapons.
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it → announce → weapons
Seoul also pledged continued humanitarian assistance and support for reconstruction.
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Seoul → pledge → reconstruction
Mr Zelensky's comments on Monday came after Seoul and Kyiv were at odds over his announcement last week that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.
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Ukraine → come → Korea
South Korea demanded an apology from Ukraine after Mr Zelensky disclosed the transfer at the UN General Assembly last week, saying Kyiv had breached an agreement to keep it confidential.
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Kyiv → demand → it
Seoul said confidentiality was necessary to protect the soldiers and relatives in North Korea, while Kyiv said no secrecy agreement existed.
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agreement → say → Korea
The move raised questions over how they will be investigated, protested and resettled, along with the legal basis of their transfer.
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they → raise → transfer
The soldiers are expected to undergo questioning and security screening before the South Korean authorities decide whether to grant them protection and begin the resettlement process.
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authorities → expect → process
Seoul's Unification Ministry said on Monday their cases would be reviewed under relevant laws and past practices, suggesting that the North Korean Defectors Protection and Settlement Support Act would apply.
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Act → say → laws
The Aporia
