Brief

Zelensky accuses Putin of using 47‑country fighters at UN

Zelensky warned that Russia is drawing on foreign nationals for its war effort, citing North Korean troops and other countries.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:32:05 GMT

At the UN General Assembly on 23 September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of recruiting fighters from 47 countries to wage war against Ukraine. He cited North Korean soldiers who had been captured and sent to South Korea, as well as citizens from Ghana, Nepal and India who were reportedly caught up in the conflict. Zelensky also highlighted Russia’s growing defence ties with North Korea and announced new drone deals with Finland, Australia and a planned agreement with Canada. He warned that Ukraine would target Russian energy infrastructure this winter to counter Moscow’s attacks on civilian heating and fuel facilities.

Key facts

Zelensky said Russia uses citizens from 47 countries in its war (france24.com)
North Korean troops were captured and sent to South Korea (france24.com)
Zelensky announced a drone deal with Finland and a security agreement with Australia (france24.com)
Ukraine plans to target Russian energy infrastructure this winter (france24.com)

Background

The speech follows recent Russian air attacks that killed four civilians in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia and Sumy, and Ukraine’s ongoing drone campaign against Russian refineries. It also comes amid international debate over the use of AI in warfare, as highlighted in a separate UN address by Zelensky.

Timeline

2026-09-22 — Ukraine’s drone attacks hit 27 of 32 Russian refineries
2026-09-23 — Zelensky addresses UN General Assembly
2026-09-26 — Russian attacks kill four civilians in Ukraine

Why it matters

The allegations raise concerns about the legality and ethics of using foreign nationals in armed conflict and could influence international sanctions and diplomatic responses.