Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1624: North Korean missiles join Russia’s arsenal as Kyiv reels from twin barrages

Exclusives

Russia wrecked Ukraine's grid. Dutch turbines with 20 years left are keeping its factories lit. Too small for a Dutch wind farm, exactly big enough for a factory running on two hours of power a day.

Some Ukrainian farmers sell wheat below cost as Black Sea disruption stops ore operations. The central bank has put a $2.5 billion price on the port closures, and an iron ore miner now has weeks of cash left.

Ukraine's new ballistic missiles would make Russia choose: bomb Kyiv or defend Moscow. Russia uses its S-400 air defense missiles in a surface strike mode. Once Ukrainian ballistic missiles start raining down, this may no longer be an option.

Europe promised Ukraine a deterrence force. The missiles that would make it work arrive in 2029.. The only deep-strike production line opening sooner runs through Ukrainian factories.

Military

Why can't Ukraine just blow up Russian launchers firing ballistic missiles at its cities?. Russia's Iskander launchers hide on forest roads, deploy and flee in minutes, making them extremely hard to catch, presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov says.

Ukraine hits 16th Wildberries warehouse in under three weeks, one injured overnight. Governor confirms drone downed itself onto sorting hub, one worker injured.

Intelligence and technology

For under $120, Russia can get Ukrainian warehouse bombed. Here's how it finds its targets. Russia can launch around 100 ballistic missiles at Ukraine each month.

American tank missiles, an Israeli radar, a Dutch truck—Ukraine welded them into one drone-killer. For each cheap Russian drone it stops, Ukraine saves a million-dollar interceptor for the cruise and ballistic missiles that truly need one.

North Korean missile unit deploys to Russia for ballistic strikes on Ukraine, Kyiv says. Russia is reportedly deploying a North Korean missile unit in western Russia, potentially adding 120 ballistic missiles to an arsenal increasingly used against Ukraine's cities.

US has burned through 80% of THAAD interceptors, sources tell CNN. Patriot stockpiles, which arm Ukraine's air defense, are down by half.

International

Fewer air-defense missiles from partners may be attempt to make Ukraine more compliant, Zelenskyy says after Russia's attack killed 17 civilians. President Zelenskyy said political motives may lie behind the reduced supply of anti-ballistic missiles to Ukraine.

Humanitarian and social impact

German brand sold in 150 countries just lost its Ukraine warehouse to a Russian strike. It says it won't stop operating.

For over 12 years, one man gave hundreds of Ukrainian families name and body to bury. He was killed exhuming bodies near front. Oleksii Yukov, who for a quarter-century recovered the bodies of the fallen so families could bury them, was killed by a fatal wound while exhuming bodies on the front line.

Russia loots occupied Crimea's ancient sites through six illegal archaeological digs. Russian archaeological teams are probing ancient burial sites and settlements while Ukrainian officials say artifact looters can pay Russian security personnel to take finds at dig sites from Chersonesus.

Russia destroys the warehouses of Ukraine's biggest retailers and parcel carrier in overnight Kyiv barrage. Russia destroyed the warehouses of Rozetka, Nova Poshta, and Epicentr — the retailers and parcel carrier that move goods to millions of Ukrainians — and killed 17 people.

Russia hits Kyiv and its region overnight, 14 dead as ammonia leaks and building collapses. Second massed Kyiv barrage in five days kills 14, floods four districts with fires.

Political and legal developments

Soviet nukes are "God's grace," says Russian church Patriarch Kirill. He claims it stopped the "enemy's plans" to "destroy and enslave" the country.

New EU rule blocks temporary protection for Ukrainian men who dodge military duty. Reserve+ app data now required to prove compliance before crossing into the EU.

Read our earlier daily review here.