In a recent statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed that Russia employed a North Korean missile in a nighttime strike on Kyiv, which the country’s air force has labeled a “serious threat.”
Kyiv officials reported that Moscow launched ballistic missiles alongside “several dozens” of explosive drones at the capital during the night. While the suburbs endured most of the missile impact, all drones were intercepted successfully, according to Serhiy Popko, head of the city’s military administration, in a Telegram post.
Tragically, a father and his 4-year-old son lost their lives in this attack, as confirmed by Ukrainian authorities.
“Preliminary information suggests the Russians used a North Korean missile, marking yet another deliberate act of terrorism against Ukraine,” Zelensky stated on Sunday morning.
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Ukraine’s air force noted that Russia targeted them with four KN-23 ballistic missiles, launched from the Voronezh region, and 57 drones. They managed to intercept all but four of the drones in this latest wave.
Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk, commander of the air force, remarked that while KN-23 missiles rarely hit their intended targets, they still present a significant danger to civilians.
This isn’t the first time North Korean missiles have been linked to attacks on Ukraine, as recent reports suggest that Pyongyang is strengthening ties with Moscow to resupply its military arsenal.
Despite North Korea denying any arms sales to Russia, the U.S. and its allies claim to have found evidence of such transactions.
In February, Ukraine’s SBU security service reported that over 20 Hwasong-11 missiles (also known as KN-23 and KN-24) had been fired by Russia into Ukraine since late December, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 civilians.
The Hwasong-11 is believed to be similar to Russia’s Iskander-M missile, raising questions about its development and accuracy.
There are ongoing doubts regarding the reliability and effectiveness of North Korean missiles. Despite facing extensive UN sanctions, Pyongyang has persisted in advancing its conventional and nuclear missile programs.
In early May, Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office noted that approximately half of the North Korean missiles malfunctioned, veering off course and exploding mid-air without any debris recovered.
Experts suggest there is invaluable intelligence to be gained from the deployment of North Korean weapons in Ukraine, particularly regarding their capabilities and how well they evade Western air defenses.