Zelenskiy reports that Russia is deploying more North Korean troops to counter incursions in Kursk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Saturday that Moscow has begun to deploy “a noticeable number” of North Korean soldiers in its campaign to expel Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region of Russia.

Ukrainian troops initiated their advance into the Kursk area in August and continue to hold several settlements there, as part of Kyiv’s strategy to alleviate pressure on its forces in eastern Ukraine, where Russia has been steadily gaining ground.

“Current preliminary reports indicate that Russian forces have started to incorporate North Korean soldiers into their assaults—an observable number,” Zelenskiy stated during his regular address to the nation. “They are being organized into consolidated units and utilized in operations within the Kursk region. At this moment, their involvement is limited to that area.”

Zelenskiy characterized the participation of North Korean troops in the Kursk operations, which is adjacent to Ukraine, as a new escalation in the ongoing conflict that has persisted for nearly 34 months.

He affirmed that Ukraine would persist in its defense efforts, including against the North Korean forces. Ukrainian and South Korean officials have previously reported that over 10,000 North Korean troops are present in Russia.

Zelenskiy remarked that Russian President Vladimir Putin is actively seeking to prolong and escalate the conflict. He reiterated his call for Ukraine’s Western allies to enhance their support for Kyiv, indicating that he would address this matter with European partners in the coming week.

Zelenskiy is scheduled to participate in a meeting with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, NATO, and the EU in Brussels on Wednesday.