North Korea is expected to triple the number of its troops fighting on the Russian side in Ukraine, sending an additional 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers to the front lines, according to an assessment by Ukrainian intelligence.
This would supplement the 11,000 North Korean troops deployed in November 2024, who are believed to have played a role in repelling Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
According to a document prepared by Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency, there is a “high likelihood” that these soldiers will be engaged in combat on Russian–occupied territory to “reinforce the Russian contingent, particularly during large-scale offensive operations.”
The assessment also indicates that Russian military aircraft are being converted for personnel transport, highlighting the scale of the logistical operation required to move tens of thousands of foreign soldiers across Russia, from its shared southwestern border with North Korea to the front lines.
Reports in Russian media also point to intensified cooperation. A video posted by Russian TV personality Marina Kim—two days after the Kremlin publicly acknowledged North Korea’s role—shows the intensive preparation and long–term housing of a North Korean unit.
