Russia strikes Ukraine with North Korean missiles, Zelenskyy claims

Russia carried out overnight attacks across southeastern Ukraine, striking the city of Zaporizhzhia with significant force. Officials reported that at least six people died and 20 were injured in Zaporizhzhia alone. Additional strikes on Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk resulted in six more deaths and 16 injuries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that the attack on Zaporizhzhia involved North Korean ballistic missiles, specifically mentioning Zircons, alongside guided aerial bombs. He characterized the assault as "vicious" and deliberately aimed at maximizing civilian infrastructure damage. Zelenskyy warned that Russia's increasing ballistic missile production and use of North Korean equipment signal preparation for escalation, urging the international community to respond immediately.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continued its drone operations, targeting areas within Russia. An attack on the Voronezh region resulted in one fatality and two injuries. Falling debris from the drone strike reportedly ignited fires at a Wildberries logistics warehouse. The company later confirmed the fire was extinguished, stated that goods were undamaged, and rerouted deliveries from the affected facility.

In other European news, Hungary's parliament is set to elect a new president, with András Baka, a former Supreme Court president, expected to take the largely ceremonial role. Separately, Western Europe faces a renewed heatwave, with Spain and France anticipating temperatures up to 38C as they enter their fifth heatwave of the summer.

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It was a vicious attack, calculated to inflict maximum damage specifically on civilian infrastructure. Every step Russia takes – increasing ballistic missile production, bringing in North Korean equipment, preparing for mobilisation – all of this shows that Moscow is preparing not for peace, but for escalation. And the world needs to respond now, not wait.