Wednesday, September 30, 2026 300 stories · 2177 outlet reports compared

Putin orders Russian army expansion as Zelenskyy says North Korea preparing new troop deployment

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an increase in army staffing levels, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea is preparing to send 10,000 more troops to Russia.

By The Lumen desk · Sept 30, 2026 · 1 min read
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What we know
1 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to expand the size of the Russian army.
2 CNBC reported this is the fourth increase in Russia's military staffing levels this year.
3 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea is preparing to send 10,000 additional troops to Russia.
4 North Korea has previously sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia's war effort, according to The Straits Times.
5 The war in Ukraine is entering its fifth winter, according to CNBC.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree expanding the size of the Russian army, according to multiple outlets. CNBC reported this marks the fourth increase in Russia's military staffing levels this year as the war in Ukraine continues into a fifth winter.

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Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea is preparing to deploy another 10,000 troops to Russia to support its war effort, according to The Straits Times and Reuters.

The Straits Times reported that North Korea has already sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine.

How each side covered it

Left

1 outlet
  • The Guardian combined the army expansion decree and North Korean troop warning into a single war briefing.

“Putin orders army expansion as Zelenskyy says more North Koreans to be deployed in Russia” — The Guardian

Center

3 outlets
  • CNBC noted this is the fourth increase in Russia's military staffing levels this year, as the war enters its fifth winter.
  • The Straits Times and Reuters reported Zelenskyy's warning that North Korea is preparing to deploy 10,000 more troops.
  • The Straits Times noted North Korea has already sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to Russia.

“The decree marks the fourth increase in Russia’s military staffing levels this year as the war in Ukraine continues into a fifth winter.” — CNBC

Questions readers ask

What did Vladimir Putin order?

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ordering an expansion of the Russian army's staffing levels, marking the fourth such increase this year, according to CNBC.

What did Volodymyr Zelenskyy say about North Korea?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said North Korea is preparing to deploy another 10,000 troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine, according to The Straits Times and Reuters.

How many North Korean troops have already been sent to Russia?

The Straits Times reported that North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine so far.

How long has the war in Ukraine lasted?

According to CNBC, the war in Ukraine is continuing into its fifth winter.

Sources · 4 outlet reports

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