Putin Orders Army Expansion as Zelensky Speaks of Preparations to Deploy 10,000 North Korean Troops

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an increase in the number of army personnel, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken of preparations to deploy 10,000 North Korean troops.

The developments come amid continued fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Ukraine’s General Staff reported 213 combat engagements on Monday.

The military issued the figure in a Facebook update on Tuesday morning. The summary did not provide a breakdown of the clashes by location or details of casualties.

Zelensky’s remarks concerned preparations for a deployment, rather than confirmation that the North Korean troops had entered combat. The available information did not specify a deployment timetable or the size of the personnel increase ordered by Putin.