North Korean troops training at 4 Russian military grounds to participate in war against Ukraine, sources
Illustrative photo: Russia trains North Korean soldiers at four military grounds (Getty Images)
Russia is training North Korean soldiers to participate in the war against Ukraine at four military grounds, according to RBC-Ukraine sources within Ukraine’s intelligence services.
The training is undergoing at military sites in Khabarovsk, Ussuriysk, Blagoveshchensk, and Vladivostok.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, said that Russia planned to deploy around 11,000 North Korean troops to Ukraine starting in November. The first group, consisting of 2,600 soldiers, is expected to be sent to Kursk.
Meanwhile, South Korean intelligence says that North Korea will deploy a total of 12,000 troops.
North Korean military in Russia's war against Ukraine
In October, Western media reported that North Korea intended to send troops to join the war against Ukraine. North Korean officers are already present in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, and some may have been killed.
Ukrainian intelligence estimates that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers are currently undergoing training in Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also confirmed that North Korea was preparing a contingent on Russian soil, which could include not only infantry but also other military units.
