Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday he believed Russia may have shared jet-powered drone technology with its longstanding ally North Korea, describing the prospect as "a very dangerous moment."
The remarks came at a joint press conference in Kyiv with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was visiting the Ukrainian capital as Russia intensified its bombardment. Asked by journalists whether Russia had shared its latest generation of jet-powered drone technology with Pyongyang, Zelenskyy answered: "Yes, of course."
"They (Russia) are sharing with North Korea all the technologies," Zelenskyy said. "I don't know about the ballistic and etc, but I think, yes, because North Korea helped them with missiles."
A growing drone threat
Russia has sharply increased its use of jet-powered drones against Ukraine in recent weeks, and Kyiv says it has no effective means of countering them other than using combat aircraft. According to the Kyiv Independent, Russia's Geran-4 and Geran-5 kamikaze drones can reach speeds of up to 500 and 600 kilometres per hour, making them far harder for Ukrainian mobile fire teams to intercept than slower propeller-driven models.
A deepening military partnership
Earlier in the war, North Korea supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells, and it has since provided ballistic missiles that Moscow regularly uses to attack Ukrainian cities. Thousands of North Korean soldiers were also sent to Russia to gain combat experience. South Korea and Western countries have previously voiced concerns that Pyongyang could receive help with weapons development from Moscow in return for its support.
Zelenskyy drew a parallel with Russia's cooperation with Iran: early in the war, Tehran gave Moscow the means to produce its own Shahed attack drones, and years later Russia supplied drones to Iran when it came under attack by the US and Israel.
It is worth noting that Zelenskyy framed the claim as his belief rather than a confirmed transfer — a distinction that matters until independent evidence emerges.
Sources:
Reuters: Ukraine believes Russia shared jet-drone technology with North Korea, says Zelenskiy
Kyiv Independent: 'Very dangerous moment' — Russia sharing jet-powered drone tech with North Korea, Zelensky says
The remarks came at a joint press conference in Kyiv with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was visiting the Ukrainian capital as Russia intensified its bombardment. Asked by journalists whether Russia had shared its latest generation of jet-powered drone technology with Pyongyang, Zelenskyy answered: "Yes, of course."
"They (Russia) are sharing with North Korea all the technologies," Zelenskyy said. "I don't know about the ballistic and etc, but I think, yes, because North Korea helped them with missiles."
A growing drone threat
Russia has sharply increased its use of jet-powered drones against Ukraine in recent weeks, and Kyiv says it has no effective means of countering them other than using combat aircraft. According to the Kyiv Independent, Russia's Geran-4 and Geran-5 kamikaze drones can reach speeds of up to 500 and 600 kilometres per hour, making them far harder for Ukrainian mobile fire teams to intercept than slower propeller-driven models.
A deepening military partnership
Earlier in the war, North Korea supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells, and it has since provided ballistic missiles that Moscow regularly uses to attack Ukrainian cities. Thousands of North Korean soldiers were also sent to Russia to gain combat experience. South Korea and Western countries have previously voiced concerns that Pyongyang could receive help with weapons development from Moscow in return for its support.
Zelenskyy drew a parallel with Russia's cooperation with Iran: early in the war, Tehran gave Moscow the means to produce its own Shahed attack drones, and years later Russia supplied drones to Iran when it came under attack by the US and Israel.
It is worth noting that Zelenskyy framed the claim as his belief rather than a confirmed transfer — a distinction that matters until independent evidence emerges.
Sources:
Reuters: Ukraine believes Russia shared jet-drone technology with North Korea, says Zelenskiy
Kyiv Independent: 'Very dangerous moment' — Russia sharing jet-powered drone tech with North Korea, Zelensky says
