Russia Fires North Korean KN-23 Missile in Its Attack on Kyiv, Expanding Arsenal of Deadly Weapons Deployed

Russia launched a large-scale air and missile strike from 7:30 p.m. on April 23, 2025, to 6:35 a.m. on April 24, 2025, targeting critical and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.

Following the Russian attack on Kyiv, the number of injured individuals has risen to 90, with 12 confirmed fatalities as reported by the Kyiv City Military Administration.

The attack involved a range of weaponry, including what is preliminary believed to be KN-23 ballistic missiles, Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles, Iskander-K cruise missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles, Kh-59/69 guided air missiles, and Shahed-131/136-type UAVs , as well as Gerbera drones designed to mimic Shahed-136 or Geran-2 drones used by Russia to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.

A total of 70 missiles and 145 UAVs were deployed during the assault, with significant destruction reported across various regions.

The following details outline the specifics of the strike:

• 37 Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles (launched from the Saratov region, over the Caspian Sea):

  • 31 missiles destroyed or suppressed;

• 11 Iskander-M/KN-23 missiles, 1 of which was officially confirmed to be of North Korean origin (launched from Bryansk, Kursk, and Voronezh regions);

• 6 Iskander-K missiles (launched from the Donetsk region);

• 12 Kalibr cruise missiles (launched from the Black Sea):

  • 6 missiles intercepted;

• 4 Kh-59/69 guided air missiles (launched from the Belgorod region):

  • All 4 missiles were intercepted;

• 145 UAVs (both Shahed-131/136-type UAVs and Gerbera drones were launched from Bryansk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Kursk, and temporarily occupied Crimea):

  • 132 Shahed and Gerbera UAVs destroyed or suppressed;

The extensive use of both missiles and drones highlights Russia’s ongoing strategy to target key infrastructure while attempting to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense systems.

The external resemblance between Russia’s Iskander-M and North Korea’s KN-23 ballistic missiles makes it challenging to identify the origin of the missiles fired. According to sources from UNITED24 Media and Defense Express, all of the ballistic missiles are currently believed to be North Korean. More precise information will be available once additional data is released.

“Each new combined missile and drone attack on Ukrainian cities is accompanied by an increasing use of strike weapons from Russia's allies, including North Korea. It is becoming more and more difficult to intercept them, as Russia is providing them with more and more technology. Now, for example, North Korean missiles are already equipped with Russian modern “comet” devices, which significantly complicate the work of electronic warfare,” says Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy.

According to Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, Deputy Director General of a company specializing in electronic warfare systems and an aviation expert, Russia has conducted additional work on the KN-23 to enhance its accuracy and reliability.

North Korea is a crucial ally of Russia, which played a pivotal role in bolstering Moscow’s military efforts in Ukraine. It has so far sent at least 15,000 North Korean soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces and has been supplying artillery to Russia, further fueling the war.

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Category

War in Ukraine

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The strategic partnership signed between Russia and North Korea in June 2024 marked a significant deepening of their alliance. Since then, North Korea has reaped substantial rewards from its support of Russia’s war, with over $20 billion flowing into its economy.

Following Russia’s massive overnight attack on Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that “pressure should be directed at Moscow, not Kyiv.” He further stated, “Putin demonstrates through his actions, not words, that he disregards any peace efforts and is determined to continue the war. Weakness and concessions will not halt his terror and aggression. Only strength and pressure will.”

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