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Ukraine Claims North Korea Deployed Missile Units to Western Russia
🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Ukraine Claims North Korea Deployed Missile Units to Western Russia

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Ukraine claims North Korean missile units have been deployed to western Russia, near the Ukrainian border.
  • Ukraine alleges North Korea has supplied Russia with ballistic missiles and launchers, potentially up to 120 missiles.
  • The deployment follows recent missile attacks on Ukraine, which Kyiv attributes to North Korean weaponry, raising concerns about Russia's enhanced long-range strike capabilities.

Ukraine's defense intelligence agency alleges that North Korean missile units have begun deploying to western Russia, close to the Ukrainian border. Andriy Chernyak, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, stated that approximately 90 North Korean personnel have been sent to the Voronezh region, where they are expected to be assigned to Russia's 112th Missile Brigade.

North Korean missile units have begun deploying to western Russia, near the Ukrainian border.

— Andriy ChernyakA spokesperson for Ukraine's defense intelligence agency stated the alleged deployment of North Korean forces.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, North Korea has already sent 40 new KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles and their operational crews to the area. Chernyak indicated that Russia anticipates the eventual deployment of up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers, with the final scale possibly determined at an upcoming high-level Russia-North Korea meeting next month. This alleged deployment comes after recent missile strikes on Ukraine, which Kyiv claims involved North Korean weaponry, including an attack on a residential area that killed at least five people.

The Voronezh region, where they are expected to be assigned to Russia's 112th Missile Brigade.

— Andriy ChernyakThe specific location and expected assignment of the North Korean personnel were detailed.

Ukraine asserts that North Korea has supplied Russia with around 150 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles between late 2023 and August 2025. However, neither Russia nor North Korea has officially commented on these specific claims of missile unit deployment. The situation unfolds as Ukraine intensifies its long-range drone attacks on Russian territory, targeting oil refineries and logistics bases, while Russia retaliates with ballistic missile strikes.

Russia anticipates the eventual deployment of up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers, with the final scale possibly determined at an upcoming high-level Russia-North Korea meeting next month.

— Andriy ChernyakThis quote outlines Russia's potential scale of deployment and the timing of a possible decision.

Analysts suggest that if confirmed, North Korea's additional support could significantly bolster Russia's long-range strike capabilities, particularly as Ukraine faces shortages of Patriot interceptor missiles. Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, described ballistic missile defense as one of Ukraine's most vulnerable areas, warning that North Korean assistance could pose a serious threat.

Ballistic missile defense is one of Ukraine's most vulnerable areas, and North Korean assistance could pose a serious threat.

— Rob LeeAn expert from the Foreign Policy Research Institute commented on the potential impact of North Korean missile support on Ukraine.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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