Kyiv’s defense intelligence chief, Major General Vadym Skibitskiy, told reporters that the latest contingent of North Korean personnel deployed in Russia now carries a dedicated drone unit. The 8,500‑strong force, which has been in Russia since late 2024, includes about 400 operators trained to both survey and strike targets inside Ukraine.
Expanded manpower and missile aid
Skibitskiy said the North Korean contingent is spread mainly across Russia’s Kursk region and already contains roughly a thousand engineers and deminers. He warned that President Vladimir Putin may request up to 50,000 additional North Korean troops when he meets Kim Jong Un in September.
In addition to the drone operators, Ukrainian officials say North Korea has supplied at least 150 KN‑23 or KN‑24 ballistic missiles to Russia, with another 120 promised. The missiles, which have an estimated range of 800 km, are reportedly being used in attacks on Ukrainian territory, including a strike on Radushne in the Dnipro region that killed four children from the same family.
Impact on Ukraine’s defenses
The new drone capability marks the first indication that North Korean forces in Russia will directly support offensive operations against Ukraine. Ukraine’s air‑defense systems, including U.S.‑provided Patriot interceptors, are already stretched thin, and the influx of additional missiles and unmanned aircraft further strains the country’s ability to protect civilian areas.
Skibitskiy noted that while the North Korean troops are not expected to fight on Ukrainian soil, their presence bolsters Russian rear positions, freeing Russian units for frontline assaults. He also mentioned that about 90 North Korean personnel have been sent to Voronezh to assist with missile launches, and ten large cargo flights have landed at the Baltimore aerodrome in the Voronezh area, possibly carrying more missiles.
Reciprocal arrangements and diplomatic context
In exchange for manpower and missile technology, North Korea has reportedly asked for a Russian S‑400 air‑defence system and has already received a Pantsir‑1 surface‑to‑air missile launcher.
The development comes amid heightened concern within NATO about the deepening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. It also follows former President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that U.S. drills with South Korea would be scaled back to avoid antagonising Kim Jong Un, a move that some analysts view as potentially easing the path for further cooperation between the two authoritarian regimes.
North Korean response
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, dismissed reports of a massive new troop deployment as a “groundless self‑fabricated scenario.” Nonetheless, Ukrainian intelligence maintains that the current wave of forces includes the drone operators and that additional troops could be on the way.
As the conflict continues, Ukraine’s military leaders stress the urgency of securing more air‑defence assets and international support to counter the growing threat posed by foreign‑supplied weapons and unmanned systems.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
