Russia deployed 8,500 North Korean soldiers to Kursk
Ukrainian intelligence says the troops would reinforce Russian rear positions, freeing Moscow’s forces for assault operations and adding drone capacity for reconnaissance and strikes.
laupäev, 22. august 2026 00:17
Russia has deployed about 8,500 North Korean troops to its Kursk region, including 400 drone operators, UNITED24 Media reported.
The force includes around 1,000 engineers and sappers, Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, told CNN. He said the North Korean drone operators are likely to support both reconnaissance missions and strikes against Ukraine.
Ukrainian intelligence assesses that the North Korean troops are not expected to fight directly on Ukrainian territory. Their main role is to reinforce Russian rear positions, which would allow Moscow to redeploy its own forces for assault operations.
Skibitskyi said around 90 North Korean military personnel are currently stationed in Voronezh, where they are assisting Russian forces with missile launches. He said about 25,000 North Korean troops have already rotated through the Russian military in total.
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