A Russian missile strike that killed at least eight people and injured over 80 in Kyiv was confirmed to be a North Korean-made KN-23 ballistic missile, according to a Ukrainian military source.
The missile hit a residential building in the Sviatoshynskyi district of the Ukrainian capital during an overnight attack that included both drones and missiles. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing as emergency services work to clear rubble and locate potential survivors.
The KN-23 ballistic missile, which can carry warheads weighing up to one tonne, represents growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. While North Korea has repeatedly denied supplying weapons to Russia, both Ukrainian and South Korean officials reported in December that Pyongyang had sent an estimated 10,000-12,000 troops to southern Russia to support military operations.
The attack comes amid complex peace negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Recent discussions have faced challenges after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected proposals involving territorial concessions, specifically stating Ukraine would not legally recognize Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
The use of North Korean weapons in the conflict adds another layer of international concern to the ongoing war, as it demonstrates deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea despite international sanctions and diplomatic pressure.
Emergency services continue to provide assistance to the wounded while rescue teams search through damaged buildings in the aftermath of the strike.