North Korea deploys missile unit to Russia for possible strikes on Ukraine
North Korea has transferred a missile unit to Russia’s Voronezh Oblast that could be used in attacks on Ukraine, and the unit may be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles, Reuters reported, citing Andrii Cherniak, a representative of Ukraine’s military intelligence.
According to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Russia plans to station a North Korean missile unit of about 90 personnel in Voronezh Oblast within Russia’s 112th Missile Brigade.
Russia expects North Korea to equip the unit with 120 domestically produced ballistic missiles and six launchers, Cherniak said. In addition, Pyongyang has sent another 40 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles to Russia, weapons that have already been used in attacks on Ukraine.
Reuters said Moscow wants to exploit the fact that Ukraine lacks enough air defense missiles to intercept ballistic threats, and may therefore rely more heavily on this type of weapon.
Earlier, overnight into July 30, Russia used two North Korean-made ballistic missiles near Kryvyi Rih, one of which killed an entire family. Those missiles are considered direct equivalents of Russia’s Iskander system.
From 2023 through 2025, North Korea sent Russia 20,000 containers that included, among other things, 9 million rounds of ammunition, about 100 ballistic missiles and more than 200 heavy artillery pieces, according to a report by South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.
In addition to weapons, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has also supported Russia with troops. According to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, at least 7,058 North Korean soldiers have already been killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine.