Ukraine War: Zelensky Says Russia Seeks 30,000 More North Korean Troops
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia is seeking an additional 30,000 troops from North Korea and preparing to receive them in Voronezh region, while also claiming Russian losses now exceed recruitment and a new mobilization wave is planned for autumn in the Ukraine war.
Zelensky Reports Russian Request for Additional North Korean Troops
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is preparing to receive another 30,000 North Korean troops since June in Voronezh region, following the deployment of about 14,000 in 2024 that aided in repelling Ukraine's incursion into Kursk. [1] [5] [4] Zelensky added that North Korea is also preparing to transfer additional launchers for ballistic missiles to Russia. [5] He stated that this cooperation poses a threat not only to Ukraine, as Russia is helping North Korea learn how to wage war, improve its weapons, and gain real combat experience. [5] Preparations to receive the additional troops have been underway in Russia’s Voronezh region near the frontier with Ukraine. [5] North Korea sent thousands of troops to help Russia fight off a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kursk region in 2024 and has also provided arms to help Russia’s invasion since 2022. [5] According to South Korea, some 2,000 North Korean troops have been killed in the war. [5]
Claims of Russian Casualties Exceeding Recruitment
Zelensky claimed Russia recruited around 221,000 personnel in 2026 but suffered nearly 225,500 casualties including 131,000 killed, and that losses now outpace recruitment. [3] He warned of a new and significant Russian mobilization campaign planned for autumn, with recruitment previously falling short of targets. [3] Zelensky said Russia had recruited around 221,000 personnel into its military so far in 2026 but had suffered nearly 225,500 casualties, including 131,000 killed and almost 93,000 wounded, this year alone. [3] He stated that Putin is preparing to simply send more Russians to war and disguises it with different words and signals. [3] Zelensky reiterated a warning that Kyiv's intelligence indicated Russia was planning a new and quite significant mobilisation campaign in the autumn. [3] He noted that the Russians are losing more troops on the front than they are recruiting. [3] According to Ukrainian officials, Moscow has struggled to meet its recruitment goals despite continuing heavy fighting along the front line. [3] Ukrainian intelligence previously claimed that about 70,500 Russians signed military contracts during the first three months of 2026, around 30,000 short of the Russian defence ministry's target. [3]
Finnish president states Ukraine holds its strongest position since the war began. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Assessment of Ukraine's Strongest Position and Readiness for Peace
Finnish President Alexander Stubb told Zelensky that Ukraine's position is the strongest it has been since the war began and that Ukraine is ready for peace, while continued partner support is critical. [2] [4] Stubb wrote on social media after a phone call with Zelensky that Ukraine's position is stronger than ever since the war began. [2] [4] He stated that continued support from the partners is critical to keep up the momentum and that Ukraine is ready for peace. [2] [4] Zelensky thanked Stubb for ongoing cooperation and support. [4]
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Targets
Ukrainian forces conducted strikes on Russian military and energy infrastructure targets in occupied Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk and at a refinery in Tyumen, while Russia launched attacks including ballistic missiles on Kyiv causing fires and artillery strikes in Kherson and Chernihiv. [4] Ukrainian forces hit a facility of Chornomornaftogaz in the Vnukove area of occupied Crimea that Russia uses for production, storage and transport of natural gas and petroleum products to supply troops in Crimea. [4] They also struck a ground-based retranslator in the Chornomorske area used to control Geran and Gerbera type attack drones. [4] In Donetsk region, Ukrainian forces hit a road bridge used for Russian troop logistics. [4] In Luhansk region, they struck a drone warehouse and a gathering place for Russian soldiers. [4] On July 25, Ukrainian forces hit an oil refinery in Tyumen, Russia, with an annual production capacity of about seven million tonnes that produces gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel. [4]
Russian Attacks Across Ukraine and Neighboring Airspace
Romania reported shooting down three Russian-origin Shahed drones that violated its airspace over three days, one confirmed as a Shahed type used in the Ukraine war. [4] Russian forces attacked Kyiv early on Sunday with ballistic missiles, causing fires in at least three districts of the city according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. [4] Russian artillery struck a district in Kherson, setting a truck on fire. [4] Russian strikes also caused a fire at an infrastructure facility in Chernihiv that spread over 1,500 square metres. [4] Romania shot down three drones that entered its airspace over three days, with the first one destroyed on Friday 114 kilometres from Bucharest and confirmed as a Shahed type used by Russia in the Ukraine war. [4] The second drone was shot down on Saturday morning 9.6 kilometres west of Sfântu Gheorghe, and the third was destroyed by a Romanian F-16 fighter on Sunday morning over the Black Sea. [4]
Zelenskyy claims Russian losses exceed recruitment as Putin seeks 30000 more North Korean troops. — Source: timesofindia
Context on Casualty Estimates and Military Audit
The true scale of Russian military losses since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 remains one of the war's most contested issues. [3] Russia has rarely published casualty figures, while Ukraine regularly releases significantly higher estimates that cannot be independently verified. [3] One of the most widely cited independent assessments comes from a joint investigation by Russian independent media outlet Mediazona and the BBC Russian Service, which as of July 17 had identified more than 230,000 Russian military personnel killed by name, including over 7,400 officers. [3] The investigators have repeatedly stressed that this represents only the minimum confirmed death toll, as many battlefield deaths are never publicly reported. [3] Ukraine has disclosed relatively few official updates on its own military casualties, citing national security concerns. [3] An audit of Ukrainian military units has begun to assess the actual situation in each unit, with the goal of honestly evaluating combat readiness, equipment, staffing, personnel training and management effectiveness. [4] No unit is exempt, and anyone found responsible for violations, official negligence or abuses will be held accountable. [4]
What to watch next: Ukrainian officials have stated that Russia wants to receive another 30,000 troops from North Korea with preparations underway in Voronezh region since June, while Finnish President Stubb noted that Ukraine's position is stronger than ever and continued partner support remains critical.
