North Korea has expanded its military support for Russia to include hundreds of drone operators among a new contingent of troops deployed to Russia.

Axar.az reports that, in an interview with CNN, Major General Vadym Skibitskiy, deputy head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, said around 8,500 North Korean troops are currently in Russia, including about 400 drone operators and 1,000 engineers and deminers.

According to Skibitskiy, the drone operators have gained experience from previous North Korean deployments and could use drones to conduct surveillance and strikes against targets in Ukraine.

Skibitskiy also said Russia could ask North Korea for up to 50,000 additional troops when Russian President Vladimir Putin meets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in September.

North Korea has denied reports that tens of thousands of additional troops are imminent.

The Ukrainian official estimated that around 25,000 North Korean troops have so far been deployed or rotated through Russia since the first deployment in late 2024.

Skibitskiy also accused North Korea of supplying Russia with ballistic missiles and said Pyongyang had requested Russian S-400 air defense systems in return for its military support.