KYIV – August 5, 2026 – A North Korean missile unit has begun deploying to western Russia and could operate up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for attacks on Ukraine, according to an official from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.
Andrii Cherniak of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) told Reuters that Russia plans to station the unit of approximately 90 North Korean personnel in the Voronezh region, integrating it into the Russian 112th Missile Brigade. Voronezh lies about 150 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
Cherniak said North Korea has already delivered a new batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles along with personnel. Russia expects the full deployment to eventually include 120 of the missiles and six launchers. The final configuration and numbers are due to be confirmed at high-level talks between Moscow and Pyongyang next month.
The move marks a further deepening of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Pyongyang has previously supplied large quantities of ammunition, artillery and earlier batches of ballistic missiles, as well as troops that operated in the Kursk region.
Ukrainian officials note that ballistic missiles such as the KN-23 and KN-24 are significantly harder to intercept than drones or cruise missiles. Ukraine continues to face shortages of high-end air-defence interceptors capable of stopping them. Cherniak linked the latest shipment to recent Russian strikes that used North Korean missiles for the first time since August 2025.
Reuters reported it could not independently verify the intelligence claims.
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