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Russia to receive 30,000 North Korean troops, Zelensky says

newsJul 25, 2026201,512

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 25 that Russia is preparing to receive an additional 30,000 North Korean troops to support its war in Ukraine, with preparations underway in Russia's Voronezh region since June. Zelensky said North Korea is also preparing to transfer additional ballistic missile launchers to Russia, calling that transfer a threat beyond Ukraine to Asian countries within range of those missiles. Zelensky accused Russia of helping North Korea gain combat experience and improve its weapons through the partnership. Kyiv says Pyongyang has already supplied ammunition and other weapons and that about 12,000 North Korean soldiers took part in Russia's 2024 counteroffensive in Kursk Oblast. Zelensky framed the expanding Moscow Pyongyang military cooperation as occurring as Russia becomes more isolated from the West and noted economic links involving North Korea, China, and Iran in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory. The announcements signal Kyiv expects further reinforcement of Russian forces and additional heavy weapon transfers from North Korea.

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