Putin Plans Covert Mobilization, North Korean Deployments

On August 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is secretly mobilizing troops and intends to deploy tens of thousands of North Korean soldiers onto Russian soil. Speaking during a national telethon, Zelensky claimed Putin seeks ways to bolster his military forces without calling for a draft, as he believes victory in Ukraine remains elusive.

Zelensky alleged that Putin is attempting to hide this mobilization and covert agreements from his own populace. He emphasized that Putin requires a decisive win to convince the Russian people, who currently prioritize the capture of the Donbas region. Zelensky dismissed the notion of a voluntary retreat, questioning what Putin could achieve as a victory.

According to Russian sources, this includes discussions with the United States regarding territorial concessions and the special status of the Donbas. Zelensky asserted that no one would abandon their homeland and simply leave. Russian forces are reportedly using North Korean weapons against Ukraine, and Ukrainian diplomats are discussing enhanced defense cooperation with South Korea, focusing on air defense systems.

North Korea has reportedly earned up to $22 billion since 2022, primarily from munitions and troop sales to Russia. Ukrainian intelligence estimates that North Korea supplied roughly half of Russia's 122mm and 152mm artillery shells by the end of 2025. Additionally, a North Korean missile unit equipped with up to 120 ballistic missiles is reportedly being stationed in Russia's Voronezh region.

Following a year-long hiatus, Russia has restarted using North Korean artillery systems against civilian targets, including a strike on a residential building in Kryvyi Rih.