Panic in Kyiv, Europe over North Korea deployment of deadly missile unit to support Russia
*As Moscow deepens military cooperation with Pyongyang
According to Ukrainian military intelligence, a North Korean missile unit comprising about 90 personnel has been deployed to Russia’s Voronezh region, where it could operate up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers. The unit is reportedly intended to support Russia’s war effort against Ukraine.
Ukraine has raised concern over the reported deployment of a North Korean ballistic-missile unit to Russia, warning that the development could increase Moscow’s capacity to launch missile strikes against Ukrainian targets.
According to Ukrainian military intelligence, a North Korean missile unit comprising about 90 personnel has been deployed to Russia’s Voronezh region, where it could operate up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers. The unit is reportedly intended to support Russia’s war effort against Ukraine.
The reported deployment, which has sparked fear across Kyiv and Europe, marks a further deepening of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. North Korea has already supplied Russia with artillery ammunition, missiles and military personnel during the war, according to Ukrainian and Western officials.
Ukrainian officials are particularly concerned that the deployment could place additional pressure on the country’s air-defence systems as Russia continues its long-range missile and drone campaign.
Kyiv has also warned that North Korean missile systems deployed for attacks against Ukraine would be treated as legitimate military targets.
Neither the Russian Defence Ministry nor North Korea’s mission to the United Nations has publicly commented on the latest Ukrainian intelligence assessment.
The development comes as Russia continues to intensify its aerial attacks on Ukraine. On Saturday, Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian forces launched 151 drones and six ballistic missiles overnight, with casualties reported in the Kyiv region.
