Serhiy Bratchuk reports Russia may replace 20,000 border troops with North Korean soldiers to bolster frontline sectors
Russia is expected to deploy North Korean soldiers to its border regions to free up domestic troops for the active front lines of the Ukraine war. Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, stated that up to 20,000 combat-ready Russian troops currently stationed on the border could be transferred to the "hottest destinations" while being replaced by North Korean forces. This move allows the Kremlin to maintain its military strength without immediate, large-scale mobilization of its own people. Analysts suggest that North Korea serves as a strategic rear for Russia, providing ammunition, ballistic missiles, and garrison troops. While Russia has faced high battlefield losses, the use of North Korean personnel helps preserve Russian human resources. Experts note that while North Korea is not the sole savior of the Russian war effort, it serves as a crucial logistical hub that allows Moscow to sustain a war of attrition against Ukraine. The alliance provides Russia with cheap weapons and "cannon fodder" while North Korea gains valuable real-world combat experience.