North Korea Deploys 8,500 Troops to Russia, Including 400 Drone Operators for Ukraine War
Updated
Updated · CNN · Aug 21
North Korea Deploys 8,500 Troops to Russia, Including 400 Drone Operators for Ukraine War
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Aug 21
Summary
8,500 North Korean troops are already in Russia in a new wave that includes 400 drone operators likely to help survey and strike targets inside Ukraine, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
Most are stationed in Russia’s Kursk region, where they are expected to reinforce rear positions rather than fight on Ukrainian soil, freeing Russian troops for assaults as Kyiv’s air-defense stocks run low.
Skibitskiy said about 25,000 North Koreans have already been deployed or rotated through Russia since late 2024, and Putin may seek as many as 50,000 more when he meets Kim Jong Un in September.
The cooperation extends beyond manpower: Ukraine says North Korea has sent at least 150 KN-23 or KN-24 ballistic missiles, promised 120 more, and dispatched about 90 personnel to assist launches from Voronezh.
In return, Pyongyang is seeking advanced Russian air defenses including the S-400 and has already received a Pantsir-1, underscoring a widening military partnership that is alarming NATO allies.
How will North Korea's battle-tested troops and new Russian tech reshape Asian security?
Will China's 2026 diplomatic push successfully reclaim its influence over a newly emboldened North Korea?
What secret military logistics are truly flowing across the newly built Tumen River bridge?
North Korea’s Expanding Role in Ukraine: 25,000 Troops, Ballistic Missiles, and the New Eurasian Alliance
Overview
In summer 2026, Russia reignited its use of North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine after securing a new stockpile from Pyongyang, leading to deadly civilian casualties and exposing Ukraine’s critical shortage of Patriot interceptors. North Korea deepened its involvement by deploying missile units and combat troops to Russia, while Russian and North Korean engineers improved missile accuracy through satellite navigation upgrades. This partnership allowed Russia to sustain heavy artillery fire and freed up Russian troops for frontline assaults. Meanwhile, North Korea gained billions in revenue and advanced military technology, rapidly modernizing its defense industry and drone capabilities, while the alliance’s ripple effects heightened instability and nuclear tensions across East Asia.