VORONEZH — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of preparing to receive additional North Korean troops in the Voronezh region. Zelensky alleged expanded military cooperation involving Russia, North Korea, and Iran, citing intelligence on troop movements and satellite surveillance.

"We also see Russia’s cooperation with North Korea. Russia wants to receive another 30,000 troops from North Korea," Zelensky said. He stated that preparations have been underway in Russia’s Voronezh region, the capital city of Voronezh Oblast in central Russia, since June to accommodate the new deployments.

Zelensky further asserted that Moscow is providing tactical support to Pyongyang. "Russia is helping North Korea learn how to wage war, improve its weapons, and gain real combat experience in using them," he said. The Ukrainian president also alleged that North Korea will transfer additional launchers for ballistic missiles to Russia.

Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) characterized this military-technical cooperation as systemic, noting the delivery of more than 100 KN-23/KN-24 ballistic missiles and over 600 artillery systems since 2023. North Korea's KN-23/KN-24 ballistic missiles were first used by Russia in attacks on Zaporizhzhia in December 2023 and Kharkiv in January 2024. HUR estimates North Korea supplied over 7 million rounds of artillery, mortar, and rocket munitions to Russia between 2023 and 2026.

Beyond the European theater, Zelensky accused Russia of providing satellite intelligence to Iran to facilitate strikes on U.S. military outposts and Gulf state facilities. He claimed active Russian satellite surveillance of these sites has been recorded since early July. Zelensky specified that on July 19 and 20 alone, Russian satellites focused on four regional air bases, including two in Bahrain, one in Jordan, and one in Kuwait. He stated there is a clear correlation between this imagery and Iranian strikes.

Previous deployments have resulted in significant losses. Ukrainian intelligence estimates that North Korea sent between 12,000 and 14,000 soldiers to help Russia’s assault on Kursk in 2024. South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence report that as many as 6,000 North Korean soldiers have died since being deployed to Russia. South Korea's National Intelligence Service reported North Korea's dissatisfaction with Russia over unpaid compensation for these troops, which could influence future deployments.

The alleged deployment of additional troops would significantly expand North Korea's military footprint in the conflict. North Korea's defense industry is capable of producing 1-2 million artillery shells annually, with a minimum monthly capacity of 30,000-50,000 rounds, according to HUR. This industrial capacity, combined with troop deployments, sustains Russia's offensive capabilities.

The accusations of intelligence sharing with Iran extend the conflict's geopolitical scope to the Middle East. If verified, the coordination between Russia, North Korea, and Iran represents a multi-front challenge involving nuclear-capable states and their proxies. The reported satellite surveillance of U.S. facilities indicates a potential escalation in threats to American interests in the Gulf region.