Russia Ukraine War latest News: North Korea has begun deploying a missile unit to western Russia, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence, in a move that could deepen military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. Ukraine says around 90 North Korean personnel will be stationed in Russia’s Voronezh region, with plans to equip the unit with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers. Kyiv also claims North Korea recently supplied 40 more KN-23 and KN-24 missiles. If confirmed, it would mark a major escalation in Russia-North Korea military cooperation amid Ukraine’s shortage of advanced air defence systems.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Ukraine Says North Korean Missile Unit Headed to Voronezh
Andrii Cherniak, an official with Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), said Russia plans to station a North Korean missile unit of about 90 personnel in the Voronezh region of western Russia. The unit is expected to operate alongside Russia’s 112th Missile Brigade. According to Cherniak, North Korea has already delivered a new batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles, along with military personnel, to Russia. He added that the final deployment details and the total number of missiles would be decided during high-level talks scheduled for next month. Ukraine believes Russia is preparing to receive 120 North Korean ballistic missiles and six missile launchers as part of the deployment.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Role of North Korean Missile Personnel Remains Unclear
While Ukraine says the missile unit is being deployed to Russia, it remains unclear what responsibilities the North Korean personnel will have during missile operations. Cherniak’s statement comes shortly after Russia reportedly launched two North Korean-made ballistic missiles at Ukraine for the first time since August 2025, suggesting that newly supplied missiles may already be in use.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Ballistic Missiles Increase Pressure on Ukraine’s Air Defences
Ukraine continues to face shortages of advanced air defence systems, making ballistic missiles one of its biggest military challenges. Unlike drones or cruise missiles, ballistic missiles travel at extremely high speeds and are much harder to intercept. Ukraine currently relies heavily on U.S.-made Patriot air defence systems to stop such attacks.
Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, warned that additional North Korean missiles could significantly increase pressure on Ukraine. “Ballistic missile defense is one of Ukraine’s greatest vulnerabilities so any increase in the quantities of ballistic missiles they face will pose a greater challenge,” he said. Lee also expressed concern that Ukraine’s air defence network could face greater pressure during the winter months if Russia resumes large-scale attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Reuters Could Not Independently Verify Ukraine’s Claims
Cherniak said the information was based on classified intelligence that could not be publicly disclosed because of security concerns. Reuters noted that it could not independently verify the claims. Neither Russia’s Defence Ministry nor North Korea’s mission to the United Nations immediately responded to requests for comment.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Russia and North Korea Deepen Military Partnership
Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea has expanded significantly since the start of the Ukraine war. The two countries signed a mutual defence agreement in 2024, strengthening their strategic ties. According to Ukrainian officials, North Korea has already supplied millions of artillery shells to Russia and deployed around 14,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region in 2024 to help repel a Ukrainian cross-border offensive. Cherniak said approximately 9,500 North Korean troops remain in the Kursk region, although they are not currently participating directly in combat operations inside Ukraine.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Ukraine Links Recent Missile Strike to New North Korean Shipment
Last week, Ukrainian authorities said a North Korean ballistic missile struck a residential house in the village of Radushne in central Ukraine, killing at least five members of the same family. Cherniak said the attack marked the first recorded use of North Korean ballistic missiles since August 2025 and claimed the weapon came from the latest shipment of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles, supporting earlier Reuters reporting.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: KN-23 and KN-24 Missiles Offer Longer Range
According to Ukrainian military sources, North Korea’s KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles have a longer range and larger payload than Russia’s Iskander missile system. However, they are considered less accurate and have been linked to attacks causing high civilian casualties. Russia has increasingly relied on ballistic missiles, including both its Iskander 9M723 missiles and North Korean-made systems, because they are difficult to intercept without advanced Patriot missile defence batteries.
Russia-Ukraine War Latest News: Ukraine Says North Korea Has Supplied Around 150 Missiles
Cherniak said North Korea supplied approximately 150 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles to Russia between late 2023 and August 2025. Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also claimed that Russia was seeking to bring another 30,000 North Korean troops into the country and that preparations were underway in the Voronezh region to receive them. While these claims have not been independently confirmed, they underscore growing concerns over the expanding military cooperation between Russia and North Korea as the war in Ukraine continues.
