North Korean missile unit deploys in Russia for Ukraine war, Kyiv says

A North Korean missile unit has reportedly begun deployment in western Russia, with the capacity to strike Ukraine using 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers, according to Ukraine's military intelligence agency. Ukrainian officials have noted Russia's increasing utilization of ballistic missiles, which are notoriously difficult to intercept, as they have fired numerous North Korean ballistic missiles at Ukraine since late 2023.

The deployment of North Korean missile forces in Voronezh is set to be finalized at a high-level meeting in the coming months. This development poses significant concerns for Ukraine, particularly during the winter months when Russia might target the country's power grid with heavy missile attacks. North Korea's KN-23 and KN-24 missiles, while less accurate than Russia's Iskander missiles, have a greater range and payload, leading to higher civilian casualties.

This military cooperation between Russia and North Korea has been ongoing since the inception of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the two nations signed a mutual defense pact in 2024.