Zelenskyy says Russia has begun additional mobilization

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday claimed Russia has begun additional mobilization, increasing the number of recruits, including foreigners, and “using various methods to enlist them.”

In his evening address, Zelenskyy said Moscow has more than 8,000 North Korean troops currently on Russian territory, adding that an additional contingent of 10,000 is planned to be deployed.

“They are being selected for training and subsequent transfer to Russia,” he said. “Russia is paying for this, including with technology.”

Zelenskyy said that, in exchange for this assistance and technical support from Russia, production of Shahed-type strike drones has been launched in North Korea.

“This is how evil spreads and how a threat to life in one part of the world extends to other parts of the world. This can only be overcome together,” he said.

Moscow has repeatedly rejected claims that it is planning additional mobilization, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accusing Ukraine of trying to “ideologically destabilize” the situation in Russia.