Zelenskyy Reports 50,000 North Korean Troops Deployed to Support Russian War Effort
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the number of North Korean troops deployed to Russia has increased to 50,000, up from earlier estimates of 30,000. Intelligence reports indicate a North Korean missile unit has begun deploying personnel and equipment, including six launchers for KN-23 ballistic missiles, in western Russia. Kyiv has requested urgent air defense support from South Korea as Pyongyang continues to exchange military personnel and tools for Russian aerospace technology and licenses.
Date: August 10, 2026
Location: Kursk, Russia
Conflict: Russia-Ukraine War
Category: border crossing
Severity: HIGH
Source: EA WorldView