Russia accused of using North Korean missile in deadly family strike

Emergency personnel work following a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at a location given as Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, in this handout image released on July 30, 2026. State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk

Russia has used a North Korean ballistic missile to kill five members of the same family in a Ukrainian village, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said, raising fresh concerns over deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. If confirmed, it would mark the first use of a North Korean missile in the war for almost a year.

The allegation came after Russia unleashed another massive overnight barrage of missiles and drones across Ukraine, killing at least nine people as Kyiv struggles with a critical shortage of advanced air defence systems.

Family Home Reduced to Rubble

Zelenskiy said the missile struck a house in the village of Radushne, near Kryvyi Rih, flattening the building and killing two parents and three of their children. The fate of their remaining four children and a 19-month-old grandson was not immediately clear.

In his nightly address, the Ukrainian president said preliminary evidence indicated the weapon was supplied by North Korea. Two sources also told Reuters the missile was likely North Korean, although forensic analysis of recovered fragments is still under way.

Fresh Missile Supply Raises Alarm

A Ukrainian military source said radar data suggested Russia fired KN-23 or KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles towards Kryvyi Rih during the attack. Investigators believe four missiles may have been launched, though officials have yet to identify other impact sites.

Russia last used North Korean missiles in Ukraine in August last year, suggesting Moscow may have received fresh supplies as it intensifies long-range strikes.

Kyiv Faces Growing Air Defence Pressure

Military analysts say the alleged use of North Korean ballistic missiles reflects Russia's increasing reliance on weapons that are harder to intercept. Unlike many cruise missiles, ballistic missiles such as the KN-23, KN-24 and Russia's Iskander can generally only be stopped by high-end systems including the US-made Patriot.

That shift comes as Ukraine faces mounting shortages of those defences, leaving more cities and civilian communities exposed to increasingly destructive attacks.

Moscow-Pyongyang Alliance Deepens

The strike is the latest sign of expanding military ties between Russia and North Korea. Pyongyang has already supplied millions of artillery shells and deployed thousands of troops to support Russian operations.

Last week, Zelenskiy warned that Moscow was preparing to receive a further 30,000 North Korean troops, underscoring fears that the partnership is becoming an increasingly significant factor in the war.

Russia used N.Korean missile for deadly strike on Ukrainian village, Zelenskiy says