According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Russian military has deployed a North Korean ballistic missile in Ukraine for the first time in nearly a year, striking a residential area in the village of Radushne and killing multiple members of a single family.
The overnight aerial assault on Thursday targeted civilian infrastructure near Kryvyi Rih, leaving at least nine civilians dead, according to Ukrainian officials. Among the victims were parents and their three children whose home took a direct hit. Regional authorities confirmed a total death toll of six in the immediate area, while ongoing rescue operations continue to assess the full extent of the casualties.
Ballistic Missile Use Marks Shift in Russian Supply Lines
Russian forces used a North Korean weapon in the attack after a prolonged hiatus, according to preliminary assessments cited by President Zelenskyy during his evening address. Two independent sources speaking to the Reuters news agency first reported the deployment, noting it is the first confirmed use of North Korean munitions in the conflict since August of the previous year.
A Ukrainian military source told Reuters that radar systems tracked two distinct flight signatures characteristic of North Korean KN-23 or KN-24 ballistic missiles heading toward the Kryvyi Rih region. Analysts indicate this deployment fits a broader operational pattern where Moscow increasingly relies on ballistic missiles—such as the domestic Iskander 9M723 alongside imported systems—which require advanced air defense platforms like the U.S.-supplied Patriot systems to intercept.
Deepening Military Ties Between Moscow and Pyongyang
The return of North Korean missiles to the battlefield highlights expanding military cooperation between the two nations. In 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense agreement.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse, the agreement has facilitated the transfer of North Korean weapon systems to Russia. In exchange, international analysts report that Pyongyang has received financial backing, food supplies, energy resources, and advanced military technology. The partnership further intensified when North Korea deployed troops to the Kursk region to assist Russian forces in countering a Ukrainian incursion, an operation that concluded when Russian and North Korean units pushed Ukrainian troops out over several months in 2025.
President Zelenskyy stated that expert evaluations will follow and everything will be verified, but at the moment there is information that it is a North Korean ballistic missile, while reiterating calls for allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and increase pressure on Moscow to end the invasion that began in February 2022.
Did You Know? North Korea first began supplying KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine during the final months of 2023, establishing a direct supply route that bypasses traditional Western export controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of North Korean missiles were reportedly used in the attack?
Sources monitoring the strike identified signatures consistent with North Korean KN-23 or KN-24 ballistic missiles.
When did Russia previously use North Korean weapons in the conflict?
According to reporting cited by Reuters, Russian forces last deployed North Korean munitions during an aerial bombardment in August of the prior year.
How has the defense agreement between Russia and North Korea affected the conflict?
The 2024 pact has facilitated both arms transfers to Russian forces and the deployment of North Korean personnel to support military operations inside Russia, according to international reporting and regional developments.
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