Russia targeted Kyiv with at least one North Korean ballistic missile, and while the exact model, KN-23 or KN-24, is uncertain, the debris was located after the missile was intercepted, as reported by Defense Express.
Russia is increasingly leaning on military imports from authoritarian nations like Iran and North Korea in its war against Ukraine. North Korea supplies the full range of artillery munitions and some short-range ballistic missiles. The first debris of a North Korean missile was earlier documented in northeastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv City.
In a recent missile attack by Russia on Kyiv, a North Korean ballistic missile was used. Residents of Kyiv found and photographed its debris, subsequently sending the images to the Defense Express editorial team.
Defense Express notes that the images display a large fragment of the missile body, featuring markings unusual for Russian missiles and seemingly tampered with to erase them. The application of large serial numbers is distinct to North Korea, possibly to suggest a larger arsenal, whereas Russia typically does not mark its missiles in this way.
“It is currently difficult to accurately identify the wreckage and say whether it was KN-23 or KN-24. Because after it was shot down, the wreckage was most likely scattered over a fairly large area,” Defense Express says.
The identification of missile wreckage, like in the case of the North Korean missile used in Kharkiv, is difficult due to scarce information. Previously, DPRK missiles rarely left their territory, usually ending up in the sea, as observed by Defense Express.
Read also:
- Mapping North Korea’s discreet artillery ammo route to Russia
- Russia hits 2 million large-caliber munitions yearly; 500k shortfall covered by North Korea
- Ukraine reports first evidence of North Korean missile used by Russia
- North Korea may sell tactical guided missiles to Russia in addition to short-range ballistic missiles, Seoul says
- North Korea uses Ukraine “as test site for nuclear-capable missiles,” South Korea says at UN SC meeting
- US calls UN Security Council meeting over North Korea’s missile supply to Russia
- North Korea supplies ballistic missiles, launchers to Russia, White House confirms
- Ghost ships reveal North Korea’s secret arms trade with Russia, posing threat to Ukraine – Bloomberg
- North Korea supplies Russia with full range of artillery ammo, including gun and mortar shells, rockets
- North Korean arms transfers to Russia estimated over 500,000 artillery rounds in two months, OSINT group says
- Seoul: North Korea likely sends missiles as well as shells to Russia