Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused North Korea, Iran and China of playing increasingly significant roles in supporting Russia's war effort, warning that Kyiv is simultaneously confronting three distinct external threats ranging from troop deployments and drone supplies to satellite technology. Speaking in an interview with Sky News, Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing for the possibility that the involvement of Moscow's partners could deepen even further as the conflict enters another critical phase.
The Ukrainian leader argued that while Kyiv seeks to avoid widening the conflict beyond its current boundaries, the reality is that several foreign governments have already become active participants in Russia's campaign. His remarks came as tensions between Ukraine and Iran intensified following reports of a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea and amid continued scrutiny of North Korea's military cooperation with Moscow.
"We must be careful. We must do everything not to open a new front in any way. But we must be honest. The Iranians and North Koreans have already attacked us," Zelensky told Sky News. He added that Ukraine hopes neither country escalates its involvement further but stressed that Kyiv must prepare for every possible scenario regardless of diplomatic intentions.
Zelensky identified North Korea as the first major concern, pointing to what he described as an expanding military partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow. According to the Ukrainian president, North Korea's support has evolved beyond ammunition shipments to include the deployment of thousands of soldiers who have fought alongside Russian forces.
"The Iranians gave weapons, the North Koreans gave weapons, drones, missile shells, 155-calibre artillery shells," Zelensky said. "And in the end, people, as you remember, 10,000 North Koreans." He argued that the assistance began early in the war and was not triggered by any action taken by Ukraine, saying it started "at the very beginning, without any messages, any kind of escalation from our side."
The Ukrainian president said that experience has fundamentally altered Kyiv's assessment of governments claiming neutrality in the conflict. "We have to be ready for everything. Just be ready and understand that we cannot trust these people," Zelensky said, referring to countries providing military assistance to Russia.
Iran represents the second challenge identified by Zelensky, who said Tehran's role has expanded well beyond the initial transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles. He argued that Iran's provision of Shahed drone technology and production licenses enabled Russia to establish domestic manufacturing capabilities that continue to fuel attacks on Ukrainian cities.
"They gave thousands of these drones... then they gave licences. What did they do? Did they attack us? I think yes. So they already did it," Zelensky said, rejecting suggestions that Iran remains outside the conflict. His comments followed accusations by Tehran that Ukraine attacked one of its commercial vessels in the Caspian Sea. Iran's Foreign Ministry described the reported strike as a violation of international law and said it would respond in accordance with its right to self-defense, while Ukrainian officials have not disputed that the strike occurred.
The third issue Zelensky highlighted involved China, which he described as the most strategically significant concern because of its alleged technological assistance to Russia. He claimed Beijing has been providing satellite capabilities and targeting support that have improved Russia's ability to conduct precision strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and military positions.
The allegation builds on earlier statements Zelensky made in December 2025, when he said Ukrainian officials had observed what he described as correlations between Chinese satellite imagery of Ukrainian territory and subsequent Russian attacks on energy facilities. At the time, those assertions were presented as observed patterns rather than definitive proof, and they were not independently verified.
If Zelensky's latest assessment proves accurate, it would suggest Russia's war effort is being reinforced through multiple channels simultaneously:
- North Korea: Troop deployments, artillery shells, drones and missile ammunition.
- Iran: Shahed drones, weapons transfers and drone production technology.
- China: Alleged satellite technology and targeting assistance.
The claims remain Ukraine's assessment and have not been independently confirmed. North Korea, Iran and China have each previously denied directly participating in Russia's military campaign, while Western intelligence agencies have not publicly verified Zelensky's latest allegations.
