Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky claims North Korea is preparing to deploy 10,000 more troops to Russia

Zelensky says Russia plans to deploy 10,000 more North Korean troopsNorth Korea is preparing to deploy 10,000 more troops to Russia as Putin embarks on a recruitment drive from foreign countries, Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed.The Ukrainian leader said Russia is “increasing the number of people they recruit” though “various means” including enlisting foreigners, and called on foreign governments to “counter this”.In a post on X, he claimed Moscow had already deloyed 8,000 troops from North Korea and is plotting to enlist a futher 10,000, in a scheme he said shows “how evil encroaches”.It comes after at least ten people were killed and a landmark building was set alight in Kyiv after a fresh round of Russian strikes on Ukraine.Volodymyr Zelensky earlier accused Russia of "terrorising" Ukrainians after the latest attacks in which a market was set on fire and schools were targeted.“Anywhere in the world, this choice of targets would be called by one word – terrorism. Russia has no military objective whatsoever in doing this – it is purely an attempt to break people and inflict as much harm as possible on our society,” the Ukrainian president said.Putin orders increase in size of Russian armyRussian president Vladimir Putin has ordered an increase in the size of the country’s army to 1.55 million active servicemen, according to a presidential decree issued on Monday.The latest expansion comes as Russia and Ukraine face mounting casualties more than four and a half years into the war.Under the decree, the overall strength of Russia’s armed forces will rise to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1.55 million active servicemen – an increase of 15,500 troops.The move follows a similar expansion ordered by Putin in August.Shweta Sharma29 September 2026 05:00Explosions heard in Kyiv Explosions were heard across the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Tuesday as Russia continued its near-daily attacks on the country.Missile debris fell in the courtyard of a residential building, while a non-residential building caught fire elsewhere in the city, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.The latest attack came a day after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said nine people had been killed and more than 80 injured in Russian drone strikes across the country, including in Kyiv.(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Shweta Sharma29 September 2026 04:24Zelensky says North Korea prepares to deploy another 10,000 troops to RussiaUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday there are more than 8,000 North Korean troops on Russian territory ⁠and preparations are underway to deploy another 10,000 troops.Citing "new data" on the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia, Zelensky said in a post on X they were "being selected for ⁠training and subsequent deployment to ​Russia."The ⁠Ukrainian president said in August that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could be sent ⁠to fight for Russia, and called on South Korea ​to ⁠provide support for Ukraine's air ‌defence.South Korea announced in July a $100m aid package for Ukraine, although it excluded lethal weapons.Zelensky's comments on ‌Monday came after Seoul and Kyiv were ‌at odds over his announcement last week that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.Shweta Sharma29 September 2026 03:47Watch: We choose not to die or lose our freedom, says ZelenskyWe choose not to die or lose our freedom, says ZelenskyNicole Wootton-Cane29 September 2026 03:00Russia puts German retailer Metro's assets under temporary administration amid Ukraine tensionsRussia has ​placed the local assets of German retailer Metro AG under temporary administration, according to a presidential decree published on Monday, amid heightened Ukraine-linked tensions between Moscow and Berlin.The assets have been transferred to ⁠Russian company UK Torg RUS, which was established on 8 September and is wholly owned, according to Russian corporate data, by Johannes Tolay, the chief executive of Metro's Russian business.The decree did not give a reason for the transfer ⁠of control, but it followed a rare ​weekend ⁠meeting between Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and German counterpart Johann Wadephul on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New ⁠York to discuss Ukraine.Mr Lavrov complained that he had learned nothing new ​from Mr Wadephul, ⁠whose country is a staunch ‌supporter of Ukraine. Germany this month said it had concluded that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport and ordered ‌a series of measures in response, including closure ‌of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin. Moscow denied the allegations, saying they had been fabricated.In a statement on Monday, Metro AG said it no ⁠longer had operational control over its Russian subsidiary and that it was evaluating further implications of the move.Nicole Wootton-Cane29 September 2026 02:00Recap: Top NATO commander urges states to condemn Russian acts of sabotageA NATO chief has said that the best way for European countries to respond to ⁠Russian sabotage and other destabilising acts was to state when Moscow was to blame and strengthen their support for Ukraine.Acts of sabotage, cyberattacks, drone sightings and other so-called hybrid ⁠attacks attributed to Russia have ​multiplied ⁠in the past months in many European countries and include a drone attack in Leipzig and ⁠a Russian strike on a train in Ukraine near ​the ⁠Polish border earlier ‌this month."Bringing that attribution out publicly will let state sponsors know that we understand what they're doing and ‌that increases costs on them," Alexus Grynkewich ‌told EU lawmakers in a Parliament committee on Monday."They will realise that their networks are ineffective and that they have to ⁠modify their behaviour and that, in and of itself, has some deterrent effect," he added.Russian activity in Europe aims at breaking allies' will in continuing to support Kyiv, he said.The supreme commander added that NATO initiatives such as the Eastern Sentry mission launched on ‌September 11 and comprising assets from allies such ​as Denmark, France, Britain, Germany have already had ‌an effect on the ⁠ground."The Russians have been much more careful ⁠to avoid coming across the border with drones in the Baltics ‌or into Poland since ​we implemented Eastern Sentry," ‌he said.Nicole Wootton-Cane29 September 2026 01:00Watch: Putin claims peace is ‘on the table’ for Ukraine - yet warns of further strikesPutin claims peace is ‘on the table’ for Ukraine - yet warns of further strikesNicole Wootton-Cane29 September 2026 00:00Putin preparing to deploy 10,000 new troops from North Korea, Zelensky claimsNorth Korea is preparing to send 10,000 fresh recruits to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed.In a post on X, the Ukrainian president accused Vladimir Putin of embarking on a recruitment drive from foreign countries, and warned foreign governments to “counter” this.“We also have new data on the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia,” he wrote.“There are currently more than 8,000 North Korean troops on Russian territory. In addition, preparations are underway to deploy another 10,000 troops – they are being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia. “In return, Russia is paying, among other things, with technology: production of shahed-type attack drones has been established in North Korea with Russian technical support. This is how evil encroaches, and how a threat to life in one part of the world spreads to other parts. This can only be overcome together.”Nicole Wootton-Cane28 September 2026 23:26In depth: Inside the real war games as Europe readies for an attack by RussiaAs warnings increase about a Russian attack on a NATO country, real-world war-games, whether played out around a conference table or on the ground as military exercises, are happening all the time. But the real danger is the potential for hysteria, fear and miscalculation to turn a shadow war into something much worse, writes Owen Matthews.Inside the real war games as Europe readies for an attack by RussiaAs warnings increase about a Russian attack on a NATO country, real-world war-games, whether played out around a conference table or on the ground as military exercises, are happening all the time. But the real danger is the potential for hysteria, fear and miscalculation to turn a shadow war into something much worse, writes Owen MatthewsNicole Wootton-Cane28 September 2026 23:00Life in the village on the edge of Russia where locals fear the next hybrid attackResidents across a Polish border community received three emergency phone alerts in a single day, warning that a missile or drone could enter from Ukraine.Above the eastern village of Dorohusk, vapour trails carved through the pale blue sky while military helicopters rumbled overhead. Just two kilometres (1.24 miles) away, traffic at the border crossing into Ukraine was halted three times, with personnel evacuated from the checkpoint on one occasion.Thursday’s alerts and operational stoppages highlight an uneasy reality along Poland’s eastern frontier, where the war in Ukraine — now four and a half years old — feels increasingly immediate.You can read more below:Nicole Wootton-Cane28 September 2026 22:00