According to information obtained by Defense Express from informed sources, russian occupiers used a North Korean-made ballistic missile during a massive strike on Ukraine on July 31. The launch was recorded from russian territory toward Bila Tserkva, but the missile fell in Kyiv Oblast, likely after an explosion in the air.
At the site where the missile fell, fragments with markings were found that match previously identified remains of KN-23 ballistic missiles. These missiles were used by russia for strikes on Ukraine at the beginning of 2024. Photos of these fragments, which Defense Express has obtained, will be provided below.
Read more: russia Supplied N.Korea With Materials and Documents For KN-23 Missile Production
It should be noted that the last recorded instance of russia using North Korean-made KN-23 ballistic missiles for strikes on Ukraine was observed on February 27, 2024.
Thus, it appears that the russian invaders resumed using long-range missile weaponry from North Korea after a five-month hiatus.
In May 2024, the Office of the Prosecutor General reported that specialists examined the debris of 21 out of 50 North Korean ballistic missiles that russia had launched at Ukraine by that time.
It was noted that more than half of the KN-23 missiles lost their programmed flight trajectory during flight and likely exploded in the air, as the launches of these missiles were recorded, but their debris was not found.
Read more: North Korea Has a Smaller Version of the KN-23 Missile Earlier Used to Attack Ukraine
