Russia using North Korean missiles in Ukraine and seeking more from Iran, US says

Ukraine and Russia fired dozens of explosive drones at each other’s territory as the United States said Moscow was now using ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea and seeking similar weapons from Iran.

Ukraine said it shot down 21 of 29 attack drones launched by Russia on Thursday night and Friday morning, and Moscow’s forces said they destroyed 36 Ukrainian drones and a cruise missile flying near Crimea, which the Kremlin illegally annexed in 2014.

Ukrainian military spokeswoman Nataliia Humenyuk said an enemy command post had been hit and “serious damage” done to Russian defences on the Black Sea peninsula.

Kyiv says Russia has fired more than 500 missiles and drones at Ukrainian towns, cities and infrastructure facilities in a wave of heavy air attacks that began on December 29th, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds.

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“Our information indicates that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea recently provided Russia with ballistic missile launchers and several [dozen] ballistic missiles,” said US national security spokesman John Kirby.

“On December 30th 2023, Russian forces launched at least one of these North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine… And on January 2nd, Russia launched multiple North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine,” he added.

“We anticipate that Russia will use additional North Korean missiles to target Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and to kill innocent Ukrainian civilians. These North Korean ballistic missiles are capable of ranges of approximately 900 kilometres… This is a significant and concerning escalation in the DPRK’s support for Russia.”

Mr Kirby said Pyongyang wanted fighter aircraft, missile technology and armoured vehicles from Russia in return, and that Moscow was also seeking missiles from Tehran.

Washington was “concerned that Russian negotiations to acquire close-range ballistic missiles from Iran are actively advancing”, he said.

Moscow has not commented directly on claims that it is receiving arms from North Korea, but insists it is not breaching United Nations sanctions on Pyongyang. It has been using “Shahed” attack drones supplied by Iran for most of its 22-month all-out war on Ukraine.

British defence secretary Grant Shapps said growing isolation had forced Russian president Vladimir Putin to go “cap in hand to North Korea to keep his illegal invasion going”.

“In doing so Russia has broken multiple [UN] resolutions and put the security of another world region at risk. This must stop now. Together with our partners we’ll make sure North Korea pays a high price for supporting Russia,” he added.

North Korean military support and expanded supplies from Iran would strengthen Russia’s hand at a time when it is also ramping up domestic arms production, while the West is struggling to boost its own defence output and US and EU funding for Ukraine is paralysed by internal political disputes.

“In the past weeks, Russia has again launched a series of indiscriminate and brutal attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure,” Tánaiste Micheál Martin said in a statement on Friday.

“Ukrainians continue to defend their country and their freedom with courage and resilience. The international community, including Ireland, must also remain firm in its resolve to support them.”