Russia Resumes Missile Strikes on Ukraine with KN-23

Russia has stepped up its missile attacks on Ukraine, using North Korean KN-23 missiles after a long pause, intensifying the conflict further.

Russia is launching North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine once more, as the nation intensifies its long-range attacks on Kyiv. The Ukrainian Air Force reported two strikes involving the KN-23 missile, which occurred on July 30 in Kryvyi Rih and another on Tuesday in the Zaporizhzhia region. This comes after a months-long hiatus in the missile’s usage; the last attack was documented in December 2025.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated on Monday that Russia had received additional ballistic missiles from North Korea. The KN-23, known as the Hwasong-11A, is a short-range ballistic missile that appears to be modeled after the Russian 9K720 Iskander.

Col. Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, pointed out that the KN-23 is akin to a North Korean version of the Iskander but is equipped with a slightly larger warhead. He noted that it is common in military technology exchanges for the original developer to keep certain details undisclosed to inhibit the creation of an exact replica.

A crucial detail was shared by Maj. Gen. Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy chief of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, regarding the KN-23 missile strike in Kryvyi Rih. He revealed that it veered off course by approximately 15 kilometers, resulting in the death of an entire family.

While it remains uncertain how many KN-23s North Korea has delivered to Russia recently, these missiles had already been supplied during the early days of the conflict. As the year progressed, their deployment rate declined, with no launches reported during the first half of 2026.

Conflict experts at the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, believe that Russia is deploying small numbers of KN-23s in coordinated strikes to test their operational capabilities and enhance their precision.

In a recent address, President Zelenskyy insisted that Russia relies heavily on North Korea for military support. He stated, “North Korea’s ballistic missiles and their other weapons are being improved through its collaboration with Russia.” Zelenskyy expressed concern that as missile attacks in Ukraine increase, North Korea’s military capabilities could evolve further, potentially posing a greater threat to US allies in the Pacific.

The Ukrainian government has voiced their apprehension regarding the air defense situation, with the country’s main line of defense against ballistic threats being the US-made Patriot air defense system. However, Ukraine faces challenges with dwindling stocks of interceptor missiles, which has hindered efforts to thwart Russia’s attacks—especially throughout the summer months.

Ukrainian officials have diligently called on international partners to supply more Patriot interceptors, which are in high demand globally. Concurrently, Ukraine is also working on developing a pan-European air defense system aimed at engaging Russian missiles at a more cost-effective rate than the Patriot system.