Russia using North Korean missiles to strike Ukraine, Zelensky says

What Happened

Overnight strikes continued between Russia and Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address on Monday evening that Russian forces used North Korean ballistic missiles in an attack on Zaporizhzhia that killed at least 6 and injured at least 19, posting photos of burning vehicles and buildings via Zaporizhzhia Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov. Zelenskyy stated 'for the first time' that Russia 'cannot wage war without reinforcements from North Korea,' warning that North Korean missile and troop deployments (up to 50,000 soldiers, per Zelenskyy) pose a global danger. Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched 120 drones overnight and a range of missiles but, for the first time, did not disclose the number of missiles fired or intercepted, following an Air Force plea to avoid 'sensationalised headlines' about interceptor shortages. Russian strikes also hit Kyiv (1 injured, hospital damaged), Kherson, Kharkiv (power outages), and Sumy (2 women injured, civilian vehicles and infrastructure damaged). Separately, Ukrainian forces struck a Wildberries logistics warehouse in Voronezh, southern Russia, causing a fire and evacuation—the company has been repeatedly targeted, with Kyiv saying it disrupts Russian military supply chains. Zelenskyy also hailed a Ukrainian air strike on a petrochemical plant in western Siberia on Monday as a 'very significant achievement' and promised more deep strikes. The attacks followed a day in which Ukrainian drone strikes on Tatarstan killed at least 13 people, including one child, and injured 75, hitting the Tanevo oil refinery; verified images showed large plumes of smoke, and the Uzbek consulate reported 7 Uzbek citizens among the dead.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The direct allegation of North Korean missile use in strikes on Ukrainian cities, coupled with Zelenskyy’s warning about North Korean troop deployments, signals a deepening Russia–North Korea military axis that could prolong the war and extend Pyongyang’s combat testing. Ukraine’s continued deep strikes inside Russia, including on logistics hubs like Wildberries and a Siberian petrochemical plant, demonstrate a sustained long-range capability. The Ukrainian Air Force’s first-time refusal to publish missile interception figures hints at growing strain on air defences, which, if confirmed, may affect the survivability of Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian areas.

Watch For

Verification of North Korean missile debris or independent confirmation of their use; official responses from Moscow and Pyongyang; further details on the scale and deployment of North Korean troops; impact of Ukrainian deep strikes on Russian military logistics and domestic morale; Western reactions and potential shifts in military aid to counter North Korean involvement; Ukrainian air defence sustainability given the unusual omission of interception data.