Russia Fires North Korean Missiles at Zaporizhzhia, Killing 6; 50,000 Troops Could Follow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Russia used North Korean-made missiles in an overnight attack on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, marking the first official confirmation that Pyongyang’s weaponry was deployed in a major assault on a Ukrainian city [216197]. The strike hit residential areas, killing at least six people and wounding 19 others, according to Ukrainian officials, who said the number of injured could rise as rescue operations continue [216197]. Zelensky made the announcement during a live briefing, without providing further details on the strike’s impact or casualties [216191]. Neither Russian nor North Korean officials have commented on the allegation [216197][216191].

The missile attack follows a series of recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, which have intensified in recent weeks [216197]. Ukraine’s unmanned-forces commander warned that the Kremlin is rushing to overwhelm a depleted air-defense system, with new salvos sometimes approaching 200 missiles launched at once [215676]. Western intelligence reports match the warning, indicating Moscow is now exceeding its monthly missile production targets [215676]. Ukraine’s deputy intelligence chief, Vadym Skibitskyi, said Russian plants are exceeding monthly missile output quotas by 110 to 120 percent, and that Moscow completed its annual targets for the Tsirkon and Onyx missiles by early August [215677]. The Tsirkon is a hypersonic cruise missile, while the Onyx is a supersonic anti-ship missile, both used in strikes against Ukrainian targets [215677].

Zelensky also stated that North Korea could deploy up to 50,000 soldiers to Russia, signaling a deepening military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang [215161][215437]. Ukraine’s military intelligence says North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia has surged from a few hundred to tens of thousands in under two months [215683]. Zelensky did not provide details on how he obtained this information, but warned that North Korea stands to gain valuable battlefield experience and advanced military technology in exchange for its support of Russia’s war effort [215161]. The exact role or location of the reported North Korean troops remains unclear [215437].

The use of North Korean missiles adds a new dimension to the ongoing conflict, raising questions about the extent of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea [216197]. The Ukrainian military has repeatedly called for more advanced air defense systems from Western allies to counter such attacks [216197]. Skibitskyi said the faster production pace gives Moscow a larger stockpile, allowing for more frequent and sustained attacks, with no sign of logistical slowdown [215677].