Russia uses at least 24 DPRK-made ballistic missiles to attack Ukraine

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin stated this, Interfax-Ukraine reports.

"So far, at least 24 ballistic missiles, probably produced in North Korea, have been used in Russian missile attacks on the territory of Ukraine. In total, from December 30, 2023, to February 7, 2024, the enemy struck at least 12 times in seven regions of Ukraine with this type of missile. We are talking about Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv (three attacks), Kharkiv (two attacks), and towns and villages in the Kirovohrad, Poltava, Donetsk, and Dnipro regions. These attacks killed 14 civilians and injured more than 70 others," he said.

Kostin noted that on February 7 this year, Russia launched the most massive attack with this type of missile, adding that Kyiv was attacked with one missile, while Pavlohrad and Kharkiv were attacked with two missiles each. No targets were hit.

He said that the largest civilian casualties were caused by a ballistic missile strike on January 2, 2024, on Kharkiv: three people were killed and 64 were injured.

At the same time, the information about the origin of the missiles is confirmed by the Central Research Institute of Armaments of Ukraine's Defense Ministry and the Interagency Working Group under the Office of the Prosecutor General.

"These missiles have different marking numbers, they have symbols on them that may indicate their Korean origin. Also, the nature and extent of the damage (size of the crater, impact), and the peculiarity of the flight path were different. That is, these missiles have a larger diameter than similar models of Russian and Soviet origin," Kostin said.

According to the preliminary analysis, the missiles have high explosive warheads with a yield of 500-1000 kg in TNT equivalent. A combined warhead could also be used. At the same time, the maximum range of the missiles is set at 650 km.

"According to preliminary data, the strikes were carried out from the territory of the Voronezh region in Russia," the Prosecutor General added.

However, he noted that the accuracy of the DPRK's ballistic missiles raises questions.

"Out of 24 missiles launched, we know of two relatively accurate hits: the oil refinery in Kremenchuk and the technical territory of the Kanatove airfield. The rest of the missiles hit at a considerable distance from each other - up to several kilometers or more - either exploded in the air or hit residential areas in Kharkiv," Kostin said.

• Recently, another DIU representative, Vadym Skibitsky, said that North Korea has already transferred about a million 122 mm and 152 mm artillery shells to Russia.
• Conflict Armament Research (CAR), an independent research organization, has found that the missile used by Russia to hit Ukrainian Kharkiv on January 2 was manufactured in North Korea.
• The head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, later said that Russia intends to agree with the DPRK on increasing the volume of arms supplies, the greatest need being for ammunition.
• On February 7, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations Robert Wood said that Russia had launched ballistic missiles made in North Korea at least 9 times at the territory of Ukraine.