President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that Russia is preparing for the arrival of 30,000 more North Korean soldiers to bolster its military efforts in Ukraine. Preparations to host these forces are reportedly occurring in the Voronezh region, with additional ballistic missile launchers also expected from North Korea. This initiative aligns with Vladimir Putin’s broader autumn strategy, which has already seen the addition of 220,000 recruits to the Russian military during 2026.
Zelensky emphasized that Russia is providing North Korea with critical combat experience and technical assistance to refine their weaponry. He cautioned that this partnership extends beyond the conflict in Ukraine, posing a significant security risk to Asian nations vulnerable to North Korean ballistic systems. Furthermore, the Ukrainian president reported that Russian satellite surveillance has been actively tracking military installations belonging to the United States and Gulf nations. Intelligence suggests this data has been utilized to coordinate Iranian strikes, with evidence showing a link between the satellite activity and attacks conducted throughout July. Ukrainian officials intend to share these findings with their international partners.
In a separate development, Iran’s Foreign Ministry claimed that Ukraine violated international law by striking a commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea. Meanwhile, IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi stated that Iranian retaliatory operations between July 8 and July 22 successfully damaged various American targets, including aircraft, Patriot air defense systems, command hubs, and missile storage facilities.
