North Korea to Send Troops and Armored Vehicles to Russia, Says Ukraine Intel Chief

In a striking revelation, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, has disclosed that North Korea is preparing to send engineering troops and armored combat vehicles to Russia as the war in Ukraine intensifies. Speaking to The Japan Times, Budanov warned that Pyongyang’s deployment may go far beyond the announced humanitarian and reconstruction missions.

Earlier this month, North Korea confirmed plans to send 6,000 soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region, officially tasked with demining operations and infrastructure reconstruction. However, Budanov raised concerns that this seemingly limited role could mask deeper involvement in frontline operations. According to him, Moscow and Pyongyang are discussing the transfer of 50 to 100 combat vehicles, including BTR-80 armored personnel carriers and heavy Cheonma-2 tanks, all to be deployed with their own North Korean crews.

If materialized, this would mark the first direct combat participation of North Korean units in the Ukraine war. Budanov emphasized that such involvement would place Pyongyang in an exclusive category of countries engaged in large-scale modern warfare, alongside only Ukraine and Russia. He argued that the move would allow North Korea to gain real battlefield experience—an opportunity that could significantly enhance its military capacity.

The equipment North Korea is reportedly preparing to send underscores its seriousness. The Cheonma-2, its most advanced main battle tank unveiled in 2020, weighs around 55 tons and is powered by a 1,200-horsepower diesel engine. Armed with a 125 mm gun, automatic grenade launchers, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles, it is also equipped with upgraded armor systems modeled after Russian and Chinese designs. The inclusion of such modern systems suggests Pyongyang is eager to test and validate its latest military technology in Ukraine’s high-intensity combat environment.

Beyond battlefield implications, this growing partnership reflects a strategic alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang. Both nations are under sweeping international sanctions, and their cooperation appears to be built on a system of mutual benefits. For North Korea, it could mean access to Russian energy supplies, food aid, and advanced military technologies, while Russia gains manpower and additional equipment to relieve pressure on its overstretched forces.

Analysts believe the influx of North Korean armored units may not decisively shift the war’s balance—given Russia’s own large inventory of tanks and APCs—but it could strengthen Russian positions at key sectors of the front by easing the burden on its troops. For North Korea, however, the value lies in the long-term: combat testing its newest weapons, refining doctrine, and boosting the battlefield skills of its soldiers.

Budanov’s remarks highlight a troubling trend: the Ukraine conflict is becoming a testing ground for foreign militaries, with North Korea now preparing to join the ranks. If confirmed, this unprecedented step would further globalize the war, embedding Pyongyang deeper into Moscow’s military strategy and signaling a shift in the operational landscape of the conflict.