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10,000 North Korean Soldiers in Russia Gaining War Experience, Zelenskyy Warns
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers are currently on Russian territory, where they are gaining firsthand experience in modern warfare, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in remarks reported on February 20.
Speaking about the growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, Zelenskyy warned that the presence of North Korean personnel inside Russia poses broader security risks beyond the war in Ukraine.
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“10,000 North Korean soldiers are currently on the territory of Russia. It is extremely dangerous that they are gaining knowledge of modern hybrid warfare,” Zelenskyy said.
He noted that North Korean forces are learning how to counter missiles and various types of drones, including fiber-optic drones, FPV drones, and long-range unmanned aerial systems.
“They are learning to counter missiles and different types of drones, including fiber-optic drones, from FPV to long-range unmanned systems. They are training on Russian territory because we are responding to Russian attacks. So they have this opportunity,” he said.
10,000 North Korean soldiers are now on the territory of Russia. It is extremely dangerous that they are gaining knowledge about modern hybrid warfare. They know how to defend against missiles, against different types of drones – including fiber-optic drones – from FPV to…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 20, 2026
Zelenskyy stressed that the long-term implications extend well beyond the current war.
“What will they do with this knowledge? At the very least, they will bring this experience and knowledge back home, to North Korea.”
Previously, Ukrainian intelligence reported that North Korean soldiers were directly involved in combat operations, including firing tube artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems, conducting aerial reconnaissance, performing artillery spotting, and adjusting rocket strikes.
A central objective of Pyongyang’s participation, HUR said, is the acquisition of drone warfare skills and practical experience in conducting 21st-century combat operations—a focus that Ukrainian officials describe as one of the defining features of North Korea’s involvement in the war.
Earlier, North Korea inaugurated a new residential district in Pyongyang for the families of soldiers killed while fighting abroad, underscoring the growing human toll of its military support for Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
