North Korea deploys missile unit and 120 ballistic missiles to western Russia

North Korea has deployed a missile unit and 120 ballistic missiles to western Russia, with the intent of striking Ukraine, according to Military Intelligence representative Andrii Chernyak. The unit, consisting of around 90 personnel, is stationed in Russia's Voronezh Oblast as part of the 112th Missile Brigade. North Korea previously sent a batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles, along with supporting personnel, to Russia.

The exact deployment logistics and total missile quantity will be confirmed during upcoming negotiations. Chernyak stated that North Korea anticipates the deployment to reach 120 ballistic missiles. It is unclear what specific role the North Korean troops will play in Russian attacks on Ukraine, although their deployment follows a year-long pause in North Korean ballistic missile strikes against the country.

Senior fellow Rob Lee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute noted that North Korean missiles pose a significant threat to Kyiv due to shortages in anti-ballistic air defense systems. Ukrainian military sources indicate that North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 missiles have a longer range and larger warhead capacity than Russian Iskanders, yet they are less accurate.

Russia initiated North Korean ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine in late 2023, and Chernyak revealed that North Korea supplied Russia with 150 missiles throughout the period from late 2023 to August 2025. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on July 30, 2026, that Russia likely reused North Korean-produced missiles to attack Ukraine for the first time in a long time, causing the death of a large family in Radushne near Kryvyi Rih.