Ukrainian drone strike kills 12 in Russia as Zelenskyy claims North Korea sends troops

Ukrainian forces have reportedly launched a significant drone attack deep inside Russia, resulting in 12 fatalities and 39 injuries in the city of Nizhnekamsk, located in the Tatarstan region. The overnight assault, which occurred on August 10, 2026, targeted industrial and civilian facilities, including an oil refinery, approximately 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted over 450 drones across 16 regions and occupied Crimea, while Ukraine's air force indicated it launched 126 drones. This incident marks one of the deadliest single attacks by Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, highlighting an escalation in long-range strikes by both sides.

Concurrently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has alleged that North Korea is preparing to deploy a substantial number of troops to aid Russia. On August 9, 2026, Zelenskyy stated that between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean soldiers are awaiting deployment to Russia. He conveyed this information via X/Twitter and in a national telethon interview, though he did not specify the source of his intelligence.

Zelenskyy further suggested that these North Korean troops would gain valuable experience from the war and deepen military cooperation with Russia, noting that North Korean missiles have already been found in Ukraine. This alleged deployment follows earlier reports of North Korean military involvement, including an estimated 14,000 troops sent to Russia's Kursk region in October 2024 and a North Korean missile unit reportedly deploying to Russia's Voronezh region in August 2026.