- North Korea has supplied missiles and troops to Russia, reflecting a strengthened alliance that Ukrainian officials say includes about 14,000 NK troops in Russia’s Kursk region in 2024.
- Russia fired its first two North Korean missiles at Ukraine since August 2025 last week, according to Ukrainian intelligence, with the strike drawing from a new batch of 40 missiles.
- Ukraine's military intelligence says a North Korean missile unit is deploying to western Russia, possibly with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers.
- The deployment configuration will be finalised at top-level talks next month.
Ukraine's military intelligence says a North Korean missile unit has begun deploying to western Russia, potentially with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes against Ukraine. About 90 North Korean personnel may be based in Voronezh, within the 112th Missile Brigade, as 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles and personnel were dispatched ahead of top-level talks next month.
This push follows Russia's reported firing last week of its first two North Korean missiles at Ukraine since last August, suggesting the deployment window is active. Cherniak's account places the unit in the western region and notes that the total missile tally and deployment shape will be finalized at high-level talks next month. Reuters could not independently verify Cherniak's assertions, which rest on intelligence not disclosed publicly, underscoring the opacity surrounding the operation.
“Ballistic missile defence is one of Ukraine's greatest vulnerabilities so any increase in the quantities of ballistic missiles they face will pose a greater challenge,” he said.
“A particularly big concern for Ukraine will be the state of its air defences this winter, when Russia could again target the power grid with heavy attacks as in past years,” he added.
Taken together, the episode highlights how closely Kyiv, Moscow, and Pyongyang are coordinating missile deployments amid ongoing conflict and diplomacy, with the timing of high-level talks looming over the final configuration of the force in western Russia.
“Ukraine's military intelligence says the unit of about 90 personnel could be based in Voronezh within Russia's 112th Missile Brigade, and Pyongyang has already sent 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles. Kyiv warns that increased ballistic missile use poses a greater challenge to its air defenses, especially this winter.”
