Putin expands Russian army as Zelenskyy warns of 10,000 more North Korean troops

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered another increase in the size of Russia’s armed forces, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that North Korea is preparing to send thousands more troops to fight for Moscow.

A presidential decree published Monday sets Russia’s armed forces at 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 active servicemen—an increase of 15,500 active troops and the fourth such order this year. The Kremlin gave no reason. Analysts had expected some form of mobilization after United Russia’s sweeping win in this month’s State Duma election.

Zelenskyy said Monday more than 8,000 North Korean troops are already on Russian territory and that preparations are under way to deploy another 10,000 after training. He said Russia is paying partly with technology, including help establishing Shahed-type attack-drone production in North Korea. Diplomatic efforts to end the war, now past four and a half years, have stalled as Washington focuses on its conflict with Iran. Zelenskyy warned at last week’s UN General Assembly that the coming winter will be painful for both sides without a truce.