North Korean troops

Ukraine's intelligence reveals number and main mission of North Korean troops in Russia

About 8,600 North Korean troops are currently in Russia, with four brigades formed from them operating as part of Russia's Sever group of forces, the BBC reported, citing Ukrainian military intelligence on Aug. 18.

18 August, 04:57 PM

Russia received another batch of North Korean missiles, Zelenskyy says

Russia has received more ballistic missiles from Pyongyang and is preparing to deploy another contingent of North Korean troops on its territory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Aug. 10.

10 August, 11:39 PM

North Korea earns $14 billion from Russo–Ukrainian war — report

North Korea may have earned as much as $14.4 billion in hard currency by providing Russia with troops and weapons, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported on March 16, citing a study by the Institute for National Security Strategy.

17 March, 12:38 AM

Putin ‘weaker than ever,’ UK Defense Secretary says

Pointing to Russia’s reliance on North Korean weapons and troops, as well as on Chinese drone components, UK Defense Secretary John Healey said that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is “weaker than ever.”

3 September 2025, 10:44 PM

Putin meets Kim, hails ‘heroic’ North Korean soldiers

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin thanked his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un for the military support of Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine during their bilateral meeting in Beijing on Sep. 3, according to the TASS propaganda agency.

3 September 2025, 10:58 AM

North Korea scales back its Kursk presence—report

Several senior North Korean military commanders have returned home from Russia, suggesting a reduced role for Pyongyang in the Russo–Ukrainian war, the Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 21.

21 August 2025, 11:45 PM

ISW: U.S. aid freeze likely to accelerate Russian advances in Ukraine

A pause in U.S. military aid to Ukraine will likely accelerate Russian battlefield gains, as it did during past interruptions in American weapons deliveries, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a new assessment on July 2.

3 July 2025, 11:40 AM

North Korean troops not currently engaged against Ukraine, HUR says

North Korean troops serving under Russian military command are not currently involved in combat operations against Ukrainian forces, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) told LIGA.net on July 1.

2 July 2025, 01:24 AM

Russians show off drone columns used in war on Ukraine during May 9 parade in Moscow

Russia showcased drone formations for the first time during its May 9 military parade in Moscow, highlighting the weapons it uses daily to strike Ukraine.

9 May 2025, 04:13 PM

U.S. State Department responds to North Korea’s confirmation of troops fighting against Ukraine

The U.S. State Department expressed “concern” over North Korea’s confirmation of troop deployments to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, Sky News reported citing a State Department spokesperson on April 28.

28 April 2025, 01:32 PM

North Korean troops may join Russian offensive on Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts – HUR

Russia may deploy North Korean soldiers in a new offensive on Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, Ukraine’s HUR intelligence spokesperson Andrii Cherniak told NHK on April 15.

16 April 2025, 04:06 PM

Syrskyi: Russia recruits up to 9,000 contract soldiers a month for war against Ukraine

Russia is bolstering its military by 8,000 to 9,000 contract soldiers each month—totaling up to 130,000 annually—Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said in an interview with LB.ua published on April 9.

9 April 2025, 03:21 PM

North Korea sent thousands more troops to Russia

North Korea likely sent at least 3,000 additional soldiers to Russia in January and February to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine, South Korea’s military said, according to a March 27 report by Yonhap.

27 March 2025, 05:25 PM

Kostenko: Ukraine’s retreat in Kursk tied to logistics, NK troops

Secretary of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Roman Kostenkо, detailed in an interview with Radio NV on March 14 the key factors behind the Ukrainian Armed Forces' (UAF) retreat in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, when the situation became irreversible, and whether Ukraine can maintain a buffer zone there.

16 March 2025, 09:39 PM

Zelenskyy: No Ukrainian encirclement in Kursk, operation ongoing

There is no encirclement of Ukrainian Defense Forces in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, and operations in the area are ongoing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on March 15 following a report from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi.

15 March 2025, 02:43 PM

Fighting in Kursk Oblast continues — C-in-C Syrskyi

Ukrainian forces are engaged in heavy fighting in Kursk Oblast as Russian and North Korean troops launch renewed assaults, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a Telegram post on March 12.

12 March 2025, 10:19 PM

Russian drone tactics cripple Ukraine’s logistics in Kursk Oblast — Forbes

Russia has deployed one of its most advanced drone units in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, along with hundreds of North Korean soldiers, marines, and paratroopers, Forbes reported on March 8.

9 March 2025, 10:41 AM

Russian gains in Kursk Oblast fueled by North Korean reinforcements – DeepState

Russian forces have made territorial gains in Kursk Oblast by deploying a significant number of North Korean troops, DeepState monitoring project wrote on March 7.

7 March 2025, 01:00 PM

Former CIA director: Russia’s losses are so high, any other country would pause

Russia’s military has suffered such massive losses that any other country would need a break from the war by now, former CIA Director David Petraeus said in an interview with NV on Feb. 26.

27 February 2025, 04:30 PM

Satellite images suggest North Korean troops were sent to Russia

Hundreds of North Korean soldiers were likely transported to Russia by sea to take part in its war against Ukraine, according to satellite imagery analysis, CNN reported on Feb. 26, citing a new study by a U.S.-based think tank.

27 February 2025, 10:55 AM

North Korean troops

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