North Korea Sends 11,000 Elite Troops to Fight in Ukraine, Ukraine’s MoD Says
North Korea has deployed over 11,000 elite troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, a move that represents more than 20% of leader Kim Jong Un’s elite “personal reserve” force, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced during a June 26 press briefing, The Gaze reports, citing The Kyiv Inedependent.
“These are soldiers specially selected based on physical, psychological, and other criteria,” Umerov said. “These units have already suffered significant losses.”
According to Umerov, North Korea has considered deploying additional units to reinforce Russian forces, but doing so would further strain its strategic reserves and raise the risk of destabilizing the regime. Ukrainian intelligence has tracked four rotations of North Korean troops on the battlefield so far.
The United Kingdom’s defense intelligence reported on June 15 that North Korea has likely sustained over 6,000 casualties in Russia, primarily due to “large, highly attritional dismounted assaults” since their deployment to Kursk Oblast in the fall of 2024.
“Russia’s use of elite North Korean troops demonstrates not only a growing reliance on totalitarian regimes but also serious problems with its mobilization reserve,” Umerov said. “Together with our partners, we are monitoring these threats and will respond accordingly.”
The deepening military relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang has raised alarms in Kyiv and among Western allies. In 2024, the two countries signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, pledging mutual assistance if either is attacked. Kim Jong Un described the deal as having a “peaceful and defensive nature.”
In reality, Umerov argued, North Korea is carrying the operational burden, while Russia has failed to deliver on its reciprocal commitments—fueling concerns within Pyongyang’s leadership circles.
Ukraine, in coordination with Western intelligence, continues to monitor the positioning of North Korean units. Umerov suggested Russia’s increasing reliance on foreign fighters signals serious deficiencies in its domestic mobilization and recruitment.
According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, North Korea may send more troops this summer and up to 25,000 laborers to Russia to assist with drone production. This would add to the already extensive support reportedly provided by Pyongyang, including over 10 million artillery shells and ballistic missiles, exchanged for Russian economic and technological aid.
Read more on The Gaze: How does North Korea Actually Help Russia in Its War Against Ukraine?