Russia has received over 8,500 troops from North Korea, including drone operators — Ukrainian intelligence
Ukraine's military intelligence says Russia has deployed roughly 8,500 North Korean troops, including 400 drone operators, in the Kursk region. About 25,000 North Koreans have already served with or passed through Russia's armed forces.
Deputy head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, has said Russia has deployed around 8,500 North Korean troops in the Kursk region, CNN reports. Among them are 400 drone operators who are likely to be used both for reconnaissance and for strikes on targets in Ukraine.
According to Skibitskyi, most of the North Koreans deployed in the Kursk region are engineers and sappers. Many of the drone operators reportedly already have combat experience, and their drones are expected to be used both for reconnaissance and for attacks on Ukraine.
About 25,000 troops in total
Skibitskyi said that roughly 25,000 North Korean troops have already been deployed in Russia or passed through the Russian armed forces in some capacity. He suggested Russia may request up to 50,000 more troops when Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in September.
CNN notes that such a move would mark a significant expansion of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, and would be a further sign of Russia's limited resources despite public claims about its economic and military-industrial resilience.
Ukrainian intelligence believes the North Koreans sent to Russia are unlikely to fight inside Ukraine itself, but will instead reinforce Russia's rear positions, freeing up Russian troops for offensives in Ukraine.
Skibitskyi said that in exchange for manpower and ammunition supplied to Russia, North Korea has requested the S-400 air defense system and has already received a Pantsir-1 surface-to-air missile system.
Background
In late July, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was preparing to receive another 30,000 troops and new ballistic missile launchers from North Korea. In early August, he added that Russia had received additional ballistic missiles from Pyongyang and planned to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Koreans on its territory.
Also in early August, GUR representative Andriy Chernyak said Russia had begun deploying a North Korean missile unit in the Voronezh region, potentially equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes on Ukraine. Pyongyang had already supplied Russia with a batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles along with personnel.
On July 30, Russia used a North Korean missile to strike a village near Kryvyi Rih, killing six members of one family.
