Russia Resumes North Korean Missile Strikes Against Ukraine

The Federal Government of Russia has resumed launching North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles at Ukraine after a pause that lasted from December 2025 through the first half of 2026. The Ukrainian Air Force reported two recent strikes: one on July 30 in Kryvyi Rih and another on August 12 in the Zaporizhzhia region.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia received additional missiles from North Korea, asserting that the collaboration allows North Korea to improve its weapons capabilities through battle-testing. The Institute for the Study of War suggests Russia is deploying these missiles in small nightly packages to improve accuracy.

Ukrainian officials noted that the KN-23 is a modified copy of the Russian Iskander missile. However, a strike in Kryvyi Rih missed its target by 15 kilometers, resulting in the death of a family. Ukraine continues to urge partner nations for more Patriot interceptors to counter the intensified ballistic missile campaign.