Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned of the potential for Russia to mobilize hundreds of thousands of additional troops and to prolong the war by involving North Korean forces. He raised concerns about the expansion of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea for the second consecutive day.
In a public address on August 11, Zelenskyy stated, "Putin believes he can extend the war through additional mobilization and the deployment of North Korean troops." He anticipates that Russia will initiate a large-scale troop mobilization following the upcoming September elections, citing internal Russian documents. He noted, "After the elections, hundreds of thousands will be quickly mobilized, with similar numbers expected next year."
Zelenskyy also reiterated claims regarding Russia's use of North Korean missiles. He reported, "Russia attacked Ukraine last night with missiles supplied by North Korea."
The Ukrainian Air Force announced that Russia launched attacks on Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv using Iskander-M and KN-23 ballistic missiles. In Zaporizhzhia, a steel plant was targeted, resulting in the deaths of seven workers.
In his previous address, Zelenskyy had also discussed the additional deployment of North Korean troops and the supply of North Korean ballistic missiles. He warned that as North Korean forces and weapons gain combat experience in Ukraine, the threat to countries like South Korea and Japan could increase.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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