Russia deploys North Korean KN-23 ballistic missile in recent attack on Ukraine - Defense Express

After a break, Russia has resumed deploying missile weapons from North Korea in their attacks on Ukraine. Defense Express sources indicate that a North Korean-made ballistic missile was used by Russian forces during a recent large-scale attack on Ukraine. The missile, launched from Russian territory towards Bila Tserkva, ended up in the Kyiv region, likely detonating in mid-air. Debris at the crash site was identified with markings matching KN-23 missiles used by Russia earlier in 2024. 

According to Defense Express, the last recorded use of North Korean-made KN-23 ballistic missiles by Russia against Ukraine was on February 27, 2024. This suggests that after a five-month pause, Russian forces have resumed using these long-range missiles from North Korea.

A monitoring group reported a possible ballistic missile launch towards the Kyiv region on the night of July 31, 2024. There was an assumption about the possible use of Iskander-M missiles, but this has not been officially confirmed.

The North Korean ballistic missiles used by Russia against Ukraine are equipped with high-explosive warheads weighing up to 1,000 kilograms of TNT equivalent and have a maximum range of up to 650 kilometers. In May 2024, the Office of the Prosecutor General reported that Ukrainian experts had examined the remains of 21 out of 50 North Korean ballistic missiles that Russia had fired at Ukraine. Wreckage of the KN-23 missiles was found in Kyiv and Kyiv region, as well as in the Donetsk, Kirovohrad, Poltava, and Kharkiv regions, as reported by Defense Express.

“It was observed that more than half of these KN-23 missiles deviated from their programmed flight paths and likely exploded in the air. While the launches of these missiles were tracked, their debris was not always found,” the publication reads.

• On the night of July 31, the invading Russian army attacked Ukraine with 89 Shahed drones and a Kh-59 guided missile. Ukraine's air defense destroyed all enemy targets.