North Korea boosts support for Russia to include drone operators, Ukraine says

Kyiv, A new wave of North Korean troops, already numbering 8,500 in Russia, includes a drone unit capable of attacking targets within Ukraine, according to a senior Ukrainian intelligence official. This marks a significant escalation in military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, with reports suggesting North Korea may send up to 50,000 additional troops during a planned meeting between President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in September. Major General Vadym Skibitskiy, Deputy Head of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, stated that the North Korean forces currently deployed are primarily stationed in Russia’s Kursk region. These troops consist of approximately 1,000 engineers and deminers, along with 400 drone operators. Many of these operators have prior combat experience, either in previous North Korean deployments or through training programs. Their drones are expected to serve dual purposes, including reconnaissance and direct attacks on Ukrainian positions. This expansion of military collaboration raises concerns among NATO allies, especially following President Donald Trump's announcement that military exercises with South Korea would be reduced to avoid provoking Kim Jong Un. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, dismissed claims of a large-scale troop deployment, labeling them as “groundless self-fabricated scenarios.” However, Ukrainian intelligence maintains that the North Korean presence will focus on reinforcing Russia’s rear lines rather than engaging directly on Ukrainian soil, thereby allowing Russian forces to concentrate on frontline operations. Ukraine first raised alarms about North Korean involvement in drone strikes last October. This latest development confirms that the newly deployed units possess the capability to conduct such attacks. According to Skibitskiy, the number of North Koreans deployed or rotating through Russia’s military stands at around 25,000. The initial deployment began in the Kursk region in October 2024, aimed at repelling a Ukrainian incursion, marking the first such action on Russian soil since World War II. North Korea initially remained silent about its military contribution until April 2025, when it confirmed its troops were engaged in combat against Ukraine. Estimates suggest that around 10,000 North Koreans were deployed, suffering heavy casualties due to their reliance on suicide tactics to breach Ukrainian lines. Survivors returning to North Korea are reportedly sharing insights on modern battlefield techniques, including the use of drones and advanced weaponry. Russian state media has showcased images of North Korean troops undergoing training within Russia over the past year. In April, Kim Jong Un attended a memorial ceremony honoring North Korea’s deceased personnel in Ukraine, underscoring the depth of bilateral ties. Skibitskiy also noted that North Korea has supplied Russia with missile technology, including at least 150 KN 23 or KN 24 ballistic missiles before August last year, with an additional 120 promised. These weapons pose a growing challenge for Kyiv, as supplies of U.S.-made Patriot anti-ballistic missile systems, one of the few effective countermeasures, are dwindling. Forty Patriot systems have been delivered to Ukraine, though two are believed to have been used in an attack near Radushne in the Dnipro Region on 30 July. The continued flow of North Korean military aid highlights the strategic importance of Moscow’s expanding alliances and the pressure on Kyiv to secure alternative defensive measures amid escalating threats.