Putin Plans Covert Mobilization, North Korean Deployments

Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing a major, covert mobilization and plans to deploy tens of thousands of North Korean troops to Russian territory, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Aug. 8. Speaking during the national telethon, Zelensky stated that Putin is searching for ways to increase his troop numbers without declaring a draft, knowing he cannot yet secure a victory in Ukraine.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “He is thinking about how to deceive his own people,” Zelensky said. “To carry out mass mobilization without announcing it. To make some shadow contracts, block borders, and so on. We see this. We are already seeing many corresponding steps.” Twisting the Anchorage terms Zelensky emphasized that Putin requires a tangible victory to sell to the Russian public, which currently hinges on capturing the entirety of the Donbas region. However, Zelensky rejected the possibility of a voluntary retreat. “We are not going to withdraw on our own. So what can he sell as a victory?” Zelensky asked. “He will twist those Anchorage terms that they discussed with the American side, with the US President.” According to Russian interpretations, these “Anchorage terms” refer to backchannel discussions regarding the territorial component of a future peace agreement and the special status of Donbas. “No one is going to abandon their country, their people, and simply walk away,” Zelensky added. “Because no one can guarantee that this man will not go further.” Other Topics of Interest Turkey Restricts Black Sea Shipping, Urges Moratorium Turkish authorities have restricted commercial ship transits through the Dardanelles to the Black Sea as Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for a moratorium on attacks against merchant vessels. North Korean deployments and modern warfare Zelensky revealed that Russia plans to station between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean military personnel on its territory. While initial estimates suggested hundreds or thousands of troops, Moscow has increased the intake. These soldiers will be embedded to gain practical experience in modern warfare. “North Korea will increase its experience in modern warfare, will receive licenses from Russia, and will receive all military tools from them. We clearly understand this,” Zelensky stated, noting that Russian forces are already using North Korean munitions against Ukraine. To counter this growing alliance, Zelensky mentioned that Ukrainian diplomats are negotiating deeper defense cooperation with South Korea, regarding air defense systems. Pyongyang’s billion-dollar war dividend Zelensky’s warnings align with alarming assessments of North Korea’s deep integration into the Russian war machine. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has secured up to $22 billion in foreign revenue since 2022, largely driven by munitions and troop exports to Russia. Ukrainian intelligence estimates that Pyongyang supplied up to 50% of Russia’s 122mm and 152mm artillery shell requirements by the end of 2025. Andrii Cherniak, a representative of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, recently reported that Russia is preparing to station a dedicated North Korean missile unit in its western Voronezh region. The unit, comprising about 90 personnel, is expected to be equipped with up to 120 ballistic missiles. Pyongyang also recently delivered a fresh batch of KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. Following a nearly year-long pause, Russia has resumed using these North Korean weapons against civilian targets, including a deadly July 30 strike on a residential home in the Kryvyi Rih region. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.