Drone Attack Destroys Stockpile of KN-23 Missiles in Voronezh Region, Russia

North Korean missiles were destroyed in a drone strike on a military ammunition depot in the village of Soldatskoye, Voronezh Region, Russia, according to Andriy Kovalenko, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC).

“An attack was carried out on an ammunition depot in Soldatskoye, Voronezh Oblast. North Korean missiles, which Putin practically begged Kim Jong Un for, have been destroyed. Iranian missiles are expected to meet the same fate,” Kovalenko wrote in a Telegram post.

Earlier, the KN-23 ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea to Russia are equipped with warheads carrying up to 1,000 kilograms of explosive material. The missiles have a maximum range of 650 kilometers.

In late July, South Korea confirmed that North Korea had delivered military shipments to Russia, including containers capable of holding approximately 5.2 million artillery shells and several short-range ballistic missiles. These weapons have been increasingly used in Russian attacks on Ukraine.

The KN-23, also known as Hwasong-11Ga, is modeled after the Russian Iskander-M missile, sharing a quasi-ballistic trajectory that makes it harder for air defenses to intercept. Despite its sophisticated design, Ukrainian forces have reported a high failure rate of KN-23 missiles, with some detonating mid-air before reaching their targets. Nevertheless, the missile poses a significant threat due to its unpredictable flight path and the potential destruction caused by its heavy payload.

Recent reports suggest that the missile’s use against Ukraine began in late 2023, with attacks continuing into 2024. Some KN-23 strikes have been devastating, including a recent attack on Kyiv on August 11, 2024, which killed two civilians.

Earlier, it was reported that a fire broke out at an ammunition depot in Russia’s Voronezh region. Witness reports suggested that secondary explosions from stored ammunition were heard.