Zelenskyy says Russia used North Korean missile in deadly Ukraine strike

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Russia used a North Korean-supplied ballistic missile to strike central Ukraine, killing five members of the same family in Radushne.

This marks the first suspected use of a North Korean ballistic missile by Russian forces in nearly a year.

Ukrainian radar data detected flight paths consistent with North Korea's KN-23 or KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles heading towards Kryvyi Rih.

The suspected missile use is consistent with Russia's reliance on ballistic weapons like the Iskander 9M723, which require Patriot air defence systems to intercept.

North Korea has provided Russia with ballistic missiles, artillery shells, and around 14,000 troops in 2024.