Ukrainian intelligence details Russia's use of North Korean troops in war against Ukraine
North Korean troops continue to take part in Russia's war against Ukraine on the side of Moscow.
Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) on Telegram
Quote from DIU: "As of January 2026, a grouping of North Korean troops is deployed in [Russia's] Kursk Oblast, from where it carries out attacks on Ukrainian border hromadas." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories – ed.]
Details: DIU noted that under Russian command, North Korean soldiers are firing tubed and rocket artillery, carrying out aerial reconnaissance and artillery reconnaissance tasks, and adjusting multiple rocket launcher strikes.
Quote: "Focusing on mastering unmanned technologies and gaining experience in modern warfare is a defining feature and one of the key objectives of the North Korean army's involvement in the Russo-Ukrainian war."
Details: DIU added that regular rotations of the servicemen deployed in Kursk Oblast take place under agreements between Moscow and Pyongyang. About 3,000 soldiers have returned to North Korea since the start of its involvement in the war against Ukraine.
"Most of them then become military instructors in order to pass on the 21st-century warfare skills they have acquired to the entire North Korean army," DIU stressed.
Background:
- In October 2024, DIU first reported details of the training and deployment of North Korean troops to fight in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
- In October 2025, Ukraine's General Staff reported that the Russian military command was deploying North Korean units to assist in military operations in Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, particularly as UAV operators.
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