Russia has deployed 8,500 North Korean military personnel in the Kursk region, including about 400 drone operators. According to Ukrainian intelligence, their drones will likely be used for reconnaissance and attacks on Ukraine. This was stated by Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Major General Vadym Skibitsky, as reported by CNN.
According to Skibitsky, among the North Korean military deployed in Russia, there are also thousands of engineers and sappers, most of whom are in the Kursk region. Many of the 400 UAV operators already have relevant experience.
Expansion of military cooperation
In total, according to Skibitsky, about 25,000 North Koreans have already been part of the troops deployed on the territory of the Russian Federation or have passed through the Russian armed forces.
Russia may request up to 50,000 servicemen during the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in September. As CNN writes, such a step would mean a significant expansion of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang and may indicate Russia’s limited resources.
Ukrainian intelligence suggests that the North Korean military sent to Russia will not fight directly on the territory of Ukraine. Instead, they may strengthen Russia’s rear positions, which will allow Russian military to free up additional forces for offensive actions in Ukraine.
According to Skibitsky, in exchange for supplying Russia with military and ammunition, North Korea requested the S-400 air defense system and has already received the Pantsir-1 anti-aircraft missile-gun system.
Previous supplies from North Korea
At the end of July, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia was preparing to receive another 30,000 military personnel and new launchers for ballistic missiles from North Korea. At the beginning of August, he reported that the Russian Federation had received additional ballistic missiles from North Korea and plans to deploy from 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean military personnel on its territory.
Also, at the beginning of August, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Andriy Cherniak, reported that a North Korean missile unit had begun deploying in the Voronezh region of Russia, which could be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and 6 launchers for strikes on Ukraine. At that time, Pyongyang had already transferred a batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles to the Russian Federation and sent personnel.
On July 30, Russia used a North Korean missile to strike a village near Kryvyi Rih, killing 6 members of one family.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
