Panic in Kyiv has intensified following reports that North Korea is deploying a ballistic-missile unit to western Russia to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine, in what Ukrainian officials describe as a significant expansion of military cooperation between Russia and Pyongyang.
Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence said a North Korean missile unit comprising about 90 military personnel has begun deploying to Russia’s Voronezh region. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the force could eventually operate as many as 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers as part of Russia’s 112th Missile Brigade.
The reported deployment has raised fresh concerns in Kyiv because ballistic missiles are among the most difficult weapons for Ukraine’s air-defence systems to intercept. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly faced large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks throughout the war, placing considerable pressure on the country’s limited stock of advanced air-defence systems.
Panic in Kyiv is therefore being driven not only by the number of missiles potentially involved but also by the possibility that North Korean personnel could become directly involved in operating missile systems used against Ukrainian targets.
Ukrainian intelligence official Andrii Cherniak said Pyongyang had already transferred a new batch of about 40 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles to Russia along with personnel. He said the final configuration and number of missiles assigned to the unit would be determined during high-level discussions.
The KN-23 and KN-24 missiles are particularly significant because they are designed for short-range ballistic attacks and can carry substantial payloads. Ukrainian officials and analysts say their use could create additional challenges for Ukraine’s already stretched air-defence network.
The reported move represents another stage in the rapidly deepening military relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang. North Korea has already provided Russia with large quantities of artillery ammunition, ballistic missiles and military personnel since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Reuters reported that North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells and about 14,000 troops, who have been involved in Russia’s war effort, including operations in the Kursk region. Pyongyang has also supplied about 150 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles since late 2023, according to the report.
Panic in Kyiv has been compounded by concerns that the additional missiles could allow Russia to increase the frequency or scale of its long-range attacks, particularly against critical infrastructure and military facilities.
The concern is especially significant because Russia has increasingly relied on ballistic missiles alongside cruise missiles and drones in attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Ballistic missiles travel at high speeds and can be considerably more difficult to intercept than many other types of aerial threats.
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Ukrainian authorities have also warned that any North Korean missile systems deployed to support attacks against Ukraine would be regarded as legitimate military targets.
The reported deployment comes amid continued Russian aerial operations across Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities recently reported that Russian forces launched 151 drones and six ballistic missiles overnight, with casualties recorded in the Kyiv region.
The development has also attracted attention beyond Ukraine because of its implications for European security. Western governments have increasingly viewed the Russia-North Korea military relationship as part of a broader shift in international security, with Pyongyang receiving military and technological cooperation from Moscow while supplying weapons and personnel for Russia’s war.
The growing partnership between the two countries accelerated after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in 2024. The agreement includes a mutual-assistance provision in the event that either country comes under armed attack, further strengthening their strategic relationship.
For Ukraine and its European allies, the reported missile deployment illustrates how the war is becoming increasingly international in character, with Moscow drawing on support from countries outside Europe to sustain its military campaign.
Panic in Kyiv also reflects wider fears that Russia could continue receiving additional North Korean weapons and personnel as the conflict enters another phase. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has separately warned that Russia could seek to bring in as many as 30,000 additional North Korean troops, although that figure remains an assessment rather than a confirmed deployment.
The potential arrival of more North Korean military personnel would further deepen Pyongyang’s involvement in the conflict and could give Russian forces access to additional manpower and weapons at a time when both sides continue to sustain heavy losses.
Despite the growing concerns, there has been no public confirmation from Moscow or Pyongyang of the reported missile unit deployment. Russia’s Defence Ministry and North Korea’s mission to the United Nations had not publicly commented on the latest Ukrainian intelligence assessment at the time of reporting.
The situation is therefore being closely monitored by Ukraine and its international partners as they assess the scale of North Korea’s military contribution and its potential impact on the battlefield.
For Kyiv, the immediate concern remains the possibility that the additional ballistic missiles could further test Ukraine’s air-defence capabilities and increase the threat to cities, infrastructure and military positions.
Panic in Kyiv may continue to grow if the reported unit becomes fully operational and Russia begins using additional North Korean missiles in attacks against Ukraine. However, the exact size, composition and operational role of the North Korean force remain subject to further confirmation.
The Defender
