Russia has fired at least 24 North Korean ballistic missiles at Ukraine: Kyiv say

Defense News ,Ukraine Russia War :- Ukraine reported that Russia fired around 24 North Korean ballistic missiles towards the country since December 30, causing damage and casualties. At least 14 civilians have been killed, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Andriy Kostin, Ukraine's prosecutor general, mentioned that a preliminary assessment identified the missiles as part of the KN-23/24 series from North Korea, used by Russia in these attacks. However, the Kremlin has not confirmed or denied the use of North Korean-made missiles.

Kostin highlighted the questionable accuracy of the missiles, with only two out of the 24 being relatively precise, hitting an oil refinery and an airfield. He also mentioned that the U.S. believes Russia began receiving such missiles after a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.

Between December 30, 2023, and February 7, 2024, Ukraine experienced at least 12 missile attacks across seven regions. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Donetsk, and Dnipro were among the targeted areas. The deadliest incident occurred in Kharkiv on January 2, resulting in three deaths and 64 injuries.

Kostin revealed that an investigation was ongoing to determine if a large crater near Bucha, caused by an air strike, was linked to the North Korean missile. The missiles' maximum range was estimated to be 650 km, and it was preliminarily suggested that Russia launched them from the Voronezh region. The use of North Korean-made missiles raises concerns about the origin and motivation behind these attacks on Ukraine.