North Korean Missiles and Troops Deepen Military Threat to Ukraine

Citing Ukrainian military intelligence, reports reveal that North Korea is supplying ballistic missiles and troops to Russia, severely exacerbating civilian risks ahead of winter.

Escalating Moscow-Pyongyang Military Cooperation

Citing Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), reports indicate that a specialized unit may be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for attacks against Ukraine, marking a further expansion of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Deployment of North Korean Personnel to Russia

Andrii Cherniak from HUR stated that Russia plans to deploy approximately 90 North Korean soldiers to the Voronezh Oblast, integrating them into the structures of the Russian 112th Missile Brigade. Although Pyongyang has delivered a new batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles along with personnel, the final arsenal configuration of this unit is to be approved during top-level talks next month, while the exact role of North Korean military personnel in missile operations remains unclear.

Ukraine’s Air Defense Vulnerabilities

This development poses a formidable challenge for Ukraine as it struggles with a continuous shortage of modern air defense systems capable of intercepting ballistic targets, such as American Patriot systems. Rob Lee, an analyst at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told Reuters that defending against ballistic missiles is one of Ukraine’s greatest weaknesses, noting that the risk increases drastically ahead of the upcoming winter when the Russian military is likely to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure again.

Civilian Danger from Less Precise Missiles

Reports of the new unit’s deployment correlate with recent attacks, as Russia fired two North Korean missiles toward Ukraine last week for the first time since August 2025. One of them completely destroyed a residential house in the village of Radushne, killing at least five members of one family. As Reuters notes, KN-23 and KN-24 missiles possess greater range and carry more powerful payloads than Russian Iskanders, but they are significantly less precise, intensifying the threat to civilians.

Scale of North Korean Troop Presence

Both countries are bound by a defense pact concluded in 2024, and alongside military equipment, North Korea is sending soldiers to Russia. According to Cherniak, approximately 9,500 troops from Pyongyang are currently stationed in the Kursk Oblast—following 14,000 previously deployed to repel the Ukrainian offensive—though they are not currently taking direct part in combat against Kyiv. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that the Kremlin is pressing for the dispatch of another 30,000 troops, which the Voronezh Oblast is currently preparing to receive.