Zelenskyy: Russia plans to station another 30,000-50,000 North Koreans

In an interview for the national joint newscast on 8 August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia has decided that between 30,000 and 50,000 North Koreans will be present on its territory. He noted that the numbers have grown steadily — from hundreds initially, to thousands, and now to tens of thousands.

According to Zelenskyy, North Korea is using this presence to gain experience of modern warfare, which could prove useful should tensions escalate in the Pacific region, potentially threatening other Asian states.

Missiles already found in Ukraine

The president recalled that North Korean missiles have already been discovered on Ukrainian territory. He said Pyongyang will keep building its combat experience and obtaining licences from Russia, which is why South Korea should deepen its cooperation with Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine remains open to cooperation and would welcome support from South Korea, particularly air defence systems, as well as joint work in areas such as drone development. He acknowledged that South Korea's constitution imposes legal restrictions on such cooperation, but said Ukrainian diplomats remain in contact and Kyiv hopes for progress.

Background

On 25 July, Zelenskyy had already said Russia was preparing to receive another 30,000 North Korean troops along with new ballistic missile launchers. On 30 July, Russia struck a village near Kryvyi Rih with a North Korean missile, killing six members of one family. Officials later found a second crater from a KN-23 ballistic missile, indicating at least two such strikes. Reports also indicate that Russia has begun deploying a North Korean missile unit in Voronezh Oblast, which could eventually field six launchers and up to 120 missiles — 40 of which have already been delivered. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said such a unit would immediately become a legitimate military target for Ukrainian forces.