Kyiv Warns: North Korean Missile Unit with 120 Ballistic Missiles Arrives in Russia
Ukraine's military intelligence claims the unit is being deployed in western Russia, in the Voronezh region, for potential strikes on Ukraine.
Ukraine's military intelligence claims the unit is being deployed in western Russia, in the Voronezh region, for potential strikes on Ukraine.
Ukraine's military intelligence agency announced on Monday, August 4, 2026, that a North Korean missile unit has begun deploying in western Russia, potentially marking a significant expansion of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. According to information relayed by Reuters, the unit could be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers intended for strikes on Ukraine.
Details of this intelligence assessment were also reported by the Croatian portal Dnevnik.hr on Tuesday, August 5, 2026, stating that Russia plans to station the aforementioned North Korean unit in the western Russian region of Voronezh. The report cites information from Ukrainian intelligence officers, who were the first to raise the alarm about this development.
Kyiv views this deployment as a further step in deepening the military partnership between Russia and North Korea. Although no specific statements from Ukrainian officials have been released, the mere fact that a North Korean unit with offensive capabilities is being moved near Ukraine's border represents a new level of Pyongyang's involvement in the war that Moscow has been waging since 2022.
The news carries particular weight for Ukraine's European allies, including Croatia, as it further complicates the security situation in the east of the continent. The presence of North Korean weaponry on Russian territory, especially ballistic missiles, increases the potential for escalation of the conflict and introduces a new actor directly onto the European battlefield. Moscow and Pyongyang have not yet officially commented on these allegations.
