Ukraine Says North Korean Missile Unit Deployed to Russia in New Phase of War

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has claimed that North Korea has begun deploying a dedicated ballistic missile unit to western Russia, marking what Kyiv describes as a significant escalation in military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang as the war in Ukraine intensifies.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the newly deployed unit consists of about 90 North Korean personnel and is expected to operate alongside Russia’s 112th Missile Brigade in the Voronezh region. The unit is believed to be equipped with six launchers capable of firing up to 120 KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles, weapons that Russia has previously used against Ukrainian targets.

If confirmed, the deployment would represent the first time North Korea has sent a specialized missile formation not just weapons or troops, to directly support Russia’s military campaign. Analysts say the move would further strengthen the growing strategic partnership between the two countries, which has expanded rapidly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

Ukraine says Russia has already received more than 150 North Korean ballistic missiles, along with millions of artillery shells and rockets. Kyiv also alleges that Pyongyang previously deployed around 14,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region, with approximately 9,500 personnel still stationed there, although they are not currently reported to be taking part in frontline combat.

Military experts warn that the arrival of a North Korean missile unit could pose a serious challenge to Ukraine’s air defence network. The KN-23 and KN-24 missiles are capable of carrying larger warheads and are difficult to intercept, particularly as Ukraine faces shortages of advanced interceptor missiles such as those used by the Patriot air defence system. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly appealed to Western allies to accelerate deliveries of additional air defence equipment.

The reported deployment comes just days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had resumed using North Korean-made ballistic missiles in attacks on Ukrainian cities following a lengthy pause. Ukrainian authorities say recent strikes involving the missiles have resulted in civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure.

Neither the Kremlin nor North Korea has officially confirmed the deployment. Moscow and Pyongyang have acknowledged expanding military cooperation under a mutual defence partnership signed last year but have not publicly commented on claims that North Korean missile units are operating inside Russia.

The latest allegations are expected to heighten international concerns over the deepening military alliance between Russia and North Korea. Western governments have repeatedly accused both countries of violating United Nations sanctions through arms transfers and military cooperation, while security analysts warn that Pyongyang could use the conflict to gain valuable combat experience and test its missile technology under battlefield conditions.