Zelensky to Putin: 'We See All Your Mobilization Tricks'
Ukrainian president warns Moscow plans to conceal conscription and deploy tens of thousands of North Korean troops, as Russian forces rely on ammunition from Pyongyang.
Ukrainian president warns Moscow plans to conceal conscription and deploy tens of thousands of North Korean troops, as Russian forces rely on ammunition from Pyongyang.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky directly addressed Russian leader Vladimir Putin, telling him that Kyiv is closely monitoring all his moves aimed at covert mobilization and deepening military cooperation with North Korea. The warning comes after his visit to Belgrade, as reported by KyivPost.
"He's thinking about how to deceive his own people, how to carry out mass mobilization without declaring it, making some covert deals, closing borders, and so on. We see it. We already see many such moves," Zelensky said, referring to Putin's plans.
Zelensky believes the Russian leader desperately needs a convincing victory to present to his own public, which is why he insists on capturing the entire Donbas. The Ukrainian president is clear: Kyiv will not voluntarily withdraw from the area.
He also warned that Moscow, if it fails militarily, might try to distort the interpretation of the so-called "Anchorage conditions." These refer to talks with the United States about territorial issues in a future peace agreement and the status of Donbas.
On Saturday, August 8, 2026, Zelensky also posted on X that Russia plans to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean troops. "North Korea will increase its experience in modern warfare, will get licenses from Russia, and will receive all military tools from them. We understand this very clearly," he emphasized.
According to Ukrainian intelligence estimates, Pyongyang has earned as much as $22 billion (about €20.2 billion) from cooperation with Moscow, primarily through the supply of ammunition and troops. North Korea has covered half of Russia's needs for 122mm and 152mm shells, and recently delivered new short-range ballistic missiles KN-23 and KN-24.
Andriy Cherniak, a representative of Ukraine's military intelligence service, revealed additional details. Russia is preparing to deploy a North Korean missile unit in Voronezh Oblast. The unit is expected to consist of about 90 personnel and will have 120 missiles at its disposal. This would resume the targeting of Ukraine with such weapons after a year.
Given all this, Zelensky called on South Korea for deeper cooperation, especially in defense, to counter the growing military axis between Moscow and Pyongyang.
