Ukraine Says 8,600 North Korean Troops Are Currently Deployed in Russia
Around 8,600 North Korean military personnel are currently deployed in Russia, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the HUR, as Pyongyang continues to provide personnel in support of Moscow.
According to the HUR, four North Korean brigades are operating within Russia’s “Sever” (North) grouping, where they are reportedly focused primarily on monitoring and protecting sections of the Russian border rather than directly participating in combat operations at present.
Ukrainian intelligence estimates that the average age of the North Korean personnel is under 30 years old.
The HUR says the contingent operates through rotational deployments, with an estimated 23,000–25,000 North Korean soldiers having been involved in Russia overall
Ukraine estimates that up to 3,000 North Korean troops have suffered irrecoverable losses, while approximately 1,500 others have sustained medical or health-related casualties. These figures are Ukrainian intelligence estimates and have not been independently verified.
Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Chief of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, further estimates that Russia could eventually have 30,000–50,000 North Korean troops deployed on its territory.
The reported deployment underscores the growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, which has deepened significantly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.