Overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine used North Korean missiles, claims Zelenskyy – Europe live

What Happened

Overnight on 11 August 2026, Russian forces launched missile and bomb strikes across multiple Ukrainian regions. In Zaporizhzhia city, at least six people were killed and 20 injured, according to local officials. Strikes on Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk killed another six and injured 16, Reuters reported. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed the Zaporizhzhia attack involved 'North Korean ballistic missiles, Zircons, and guided aerial bombs,' and was 'calculated to inflict maximum damage specifically on civilian infrastructure.' Concurrently, Ukraine's drone forces struck targets inside Russia. One person died and two were injured in the Voronezh region after falling debris caused a fire at a Wildberries logistics warehouse; the company said the fire was extinguished and goods undamaged. Ukraine's military confirmed drone hits on a military base in Voronezh, an oil refinery in Orsk, a cargo ship in the Black Sea, and energy facilities in occupied territories. In its own statement, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed its overnight strikes targeted the Nova Poshta sorting complex in Kyiv, alleging it stored drone components, and a Kyiv-3 logistics centre said to house attack drones and ground control stations.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The alleged use of North Korean ballistic missiles in a strike that killed civilians in Zaporizhzhia, if verified, signals a significant expansion of the military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang, potentially introducing new weapon systems into the conflict and complicating international diplomatic efforts. Simultaneous deep strikes by both sides—Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian military and energy infrastructure and Russian claims of hitting drone logistics in Kyiv—demonstrate the war's ongoing intensification and the broadening geographic scope of hostilities, underscoring Zelenskyy's warning that Russia is preparing for escalation rather than peace.

Watch For

Verification of the missile type used in Zaporizhzhia through debris analysis or independent investigation; potential international condemnation or sanctions targeting North Korean arms transfers; further Ukrainian long-range drone operations against Russian infrastructure; and Russian retaliatory strikes on Ukrainian logistics hubs following the Moscow's MoD claims.