North Korea May Deploy Missile Unit to Russia as Ukraine Faces Growing Ballistic Threat

North Korea could soon deploy a missile unit to western Russia, potentially strengthening Moscow's ability to launch ballistic missile attacks against Ukraine, according to a senior official from Ukraine's military intelligence agency.

Andrii Cherniak of Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence said Russia is preparing to station about 90 North Korean personnel in the Voronezh region as part of the 112th Missile Brigade. The reported deployment could include six launchers and up to 120 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles, although final details are expected to be discussed during high-level talks next month.

Ukraine has repeatedly warned that its limited supply of advanced air defense systems, particularly U.S.-made Patriot batteries, leaves the country vulnerable to ballistic missile strikes. Russia has increasingly relied on such weapons because they are significantly harder to intercept than cruise missiles.

Cherniak also claimed North Korea recently supplied Russia with an additional 40 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles, marking a renewed flow of weapons after Ukraine reported two North Korean missile launches last week—the first recorded use since August 2025. Reuters said it could not independently verify the intelligence, while Russia's Defense Ministry and North Korea's UN mission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Military analysts say the arrival of more North Korean missiles would intensify pressure on Ukraine's air defenses, especially ahead of winter when Russia has historically targeted the country's energy infrastructure. Although the KN-23 and KN-24 missiles carry larger warheads and have longer ranges than Russia's Iskander missiles, Ukrainian officials say they are less accurate and have been associated with higher civilian casualties.

Military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has expanded significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The two countries signed a mutual defense pact in 2024, while North Korea has reportedly supplied millions of artillery shells and deployed around 14,000 troops to Russia's Kursk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy recently said Russia is also preparing to receive as many as 30,000 additional North Korean troops, with infrastructure reportedly being arranged in the Voronezh region.