North Korea is preparing to deploy around 10,000 soldiers to Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday, claiming Moscow has helped Pyongyang set up attack drone manufacturing capabilities in exchange for the military aid.

The DPRK’s current contingent of over 8,000 troops in Russia is set to be reinforced by another 10,000 personnel, who are “being selected for training and subsequent deployment,” Zelensky said in a video address.

The latest figure is significantly lower than the 30,000 to 50,000 DPRK troops Zelensky estimated in August and July, when he urged allies and partners, including South Korea, to provide