Kyiv Accuses Moscow of Deploying North Korean Ballistic Missiles in Ukraine Strikes
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has asserted that Russian forces are employing ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea in their ongoing strikes against Ukrainian territory. Speaking on Friday, Mr Zelensky specifically cited attacks on the city of Zaporizhzhia, which led to the deaths of at least six civilians and injured 19 others.
This accusation follows prior statements from White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who detailed that Russia had obtained and launched North Korean-made ballistic missiles on 30 December and 2 January. These alleged transfers of weaponry from Pyongyang to Moscow constitute a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions, according to Western officials.
The deployment of such weaponry would underscore the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, a dynamic that Western powers view with significant apprehension. This collaboration appears to be driven by Moscow's need to circumvent Western sanctions and sustain its military operations in Ukraine, while Pyongyang secures material benefits.
The use of these missiles in civilian areas further highlights the devastating impact of the conflict, particularly as Western analyses frequently point to Russia's strategic interest in exhausting Ukrainian air defences and infrastructure.
