Zelensky alleges North Korean missile involvement in Zaporizhzhia strike
As casualties mount in southeastern Ukraine and diplomatic efforts stall, Kyiv accuses Moscow of integrating foreign military assets into its campaign against critical infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asserted that Russian forces utilised North Korean missiles during an overnight assault on the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, a claim that underscores the deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. The attack resulted in at least six deaths and 19 injuries, with regional Governor Ivan Fedorov reporting five fatalities and 20 wounded in the same incident.
Zelensky specified that the city was targeted with North Korean ballistic missiles, alongside Russia’s Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles and guided aerial bombs. Fedorov confirmed significant damage to industrial facilities, infrastructure, a garage cooperative, and residential buildings, noting that the number of casualties was expected to rise.
Concurrent attacks were directed at the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, where Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the city was under ballistic missile fire. Emergency services were dispatched to the Shevchenkivsky district after explosions were heard, with authorities reporting at least one injury and fires breaking out at warehouse facilities in the city centre.
Beyond Ukrainian territory, Russian regions also faced strikes. In the Voronezh region, a drone attack killed one person and injured two others, while falling debris ignited fires at warehouse facilities. Russian online retailer Wildberries evacuated logistics sites in the area following the incident. Meanwhile, an industrial enterprise in the Orenburg region was set ablaze by enemy drones, though local governor Yevgeny Solntsev reported no casualties.
The escalation in weaponry coincides with a collapse in diplomatic initiatives. Zelensky stated that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could be deployed to Russia, reflecting growing military ties. This development occurs as the so-called "spirit of Anchorage" following the summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has fizzled, with US mediation efforts at a standstill and conflict intensity reaching levels not seen since the war’s early months.
Tensions at the international level have also intensified, with former Ukrainian detainees and officials accusing Russia of systematic torture of prisoners of war and civilian detainees. Russia rejected these allegations at an informal UN Security Council meeting, calling them a disinformation campaign and counter-accusing Ukraine of abusing Russian captives.
