Zelensky accuses Russia of deploying North Korean missiles in Zaporizhzhia strikes
Overnight attacks on Zaporizhzhia killed at least six and injured 19, while Ukrainian forces struck Russian logistics hubs in Voronezh and Tatarstan in a widening of the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has formally accused Russia of utilising North Korean ballistic missiles in overnight strikes on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, marking a significant escalation in the nature of the weaponry deployed against Ukrainian infrastructure. The assault, which resulted in at least six fatalities and 19 injuries, saw the city targeted with a combination of North Korean ballistic missiles, Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, and guided aerial bombs.
Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov reported that industrial facilities, infrastructure, and non-residential buildings were struck, with local authorities confirming five deaths and 20 wounded in the immediate aftermath. The integration of North Korean hardware into the Russian military’s arsenal was highlighted by Zelensky as evidence that Moscow "cannot wage war without reinforcements from Pyongyang," a statement that underscores the deepening strategic cooperation between the two nations.
In a video address, Zelensky warned that the increasing use of North Korean missiles and soldiers poses a "danger to the rest of the world," suggesting that Moscow is correcting its tactical shortcomings through this alliance. He further noted that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers may be deployed to assist in defending Russian territory, a claim that aligns with previous intelligence assessments regarding troop movements.
Concurrently, Ukrainian forces have intensified deep-strike operations against Russian territory, targeting logistics networks critical to the Russian war effort. Warehouses belonging to the online retailer Wildberries in the Voronezh region were hit, prompting evacuations and fires at the facilities. This follows a pattern established in July, where Kyiv stated that strikes on Wildberries hubs were designed to disrupt the supply of military equipment to the Russian army.
The escalation in cross-border strikes also included a significant attack on the Russian republic of Tatarstan, located more than 1,100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Drone attacks on the region killed at least 13 people, including seven citizens of Uzbekistan, and injured 75 others. The strike on the Tanevo oil refinery in Tatarstan stands as one of the deadliest single attacks on Russian soil since the commencement of the full-scale war in 2022.
Within Ukraine, the overnight operations caused widespread disruption, with power outages reported in Kherson and Kharkiv following strikes on substations. In Kyiv, air raid sirens sounded twice, leading to fires in the Shevchenkivsky district and damage to a hospital, although officials confirmed that staff and patients were sheltering safely. Two women were also injured in a separate drone strike on Sumy.
Amidst the heightened intensity of the conflict, the Ukrainian Air Force issued a statement urging media outlets to avoid "sensationalised headlines" regarding shortages of air defence interceptors. This clarification comes as Russia has stepped up its use of ballistic missiles in recent weeks, a campaign aimed at overwhelming Ukrainian defences, which are currently strained by a lack of Patriot interceptors.
Zelensky framed the recent deep strikes, including one on a petrochemical plant in western Siberia, as "very significant achievements" intended to demonstrate the necessity of peace. He promised further Ukrainian operations designed to pressure Russia into negotiations, as the conflict continues to expand geographically and in terms of the weaponry employed.
