Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv will step up strikes deep inside Russia after an attack on oil facilities in Tobolsk. He warned that Moscow has received ballistic missiles from North Korea and may host additional North Korean troops, claims he presented without independent evidence. Zelensky suggested cooperation between Russia and North Korea on weapons development and said Russia could receive up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers. Ukraine has intensified counterattacks in recent months, relying heavily on drones.
Zelensky Vows Deeper Strikes Inside Russia, Warns Of North Korean Missiles And Troop Support
FILE PHOTO - Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, speaks with Germany's Chancellor Merz (not pictured) during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. (is associated with: «Zelensky says Ukraine will step up strikes deep inside Russia») Michael Kappeler/dpa-Pool/dpa
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will intensify strikes on targets deep inside Russia after Kyiv confirmed an attack on oil facilities in the Siberian city of Tobolsk.
In his evening video address on Monday, Zelensky said the strikes are meant to demonstrate to Moscow that pursuing peace is necessary. He framed the operations as part of a broader effort to pressure Russia to change course.
Warnings About North Korean Support
Zelensky reiterated concerns about military support from North Korea, saying Moscow had received additional ballistic missiles from Pyongyang and that Russia was preparing to host another contingent of North Korean soldiers. He did not provide independent evidence to substantiate those claims.
He added that North Korean weapons systems had reportedly been further developed in cooperation with Russia, creating an increased threat to countries across Asia. Over the weekend, Zelensky suggested that as many as 50,000 North Korean troops could be sent to support Russian operations.
Reported Deployments And Battlefield Context
According to Zelensky, North Korean troops were deployed in Russia during 2024 and 2025 to assist Russian forces in attempts to push Ukrainian units out of the western Russian region of Kursk. These assertions come amid a sustained period of intensified Ukrainian counterattacks.
In recent months, Ukraine has markedly increased its offensive operations and relies heavily on drones and other long-range systems to target Russian positions and infrastructure.
Note: Some of the claims reported by Ukrainian authorities about North Korean military assistance and troop numbers have not been independently verified. Independent confirmation and further reporting are needed to corroborate these allegations.
These developments raise wider regional and international security concerns and are likely to prompt further scrutiny from Western governments and international monitors.
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