Reuters reported on 5 August 2026 that a North Korean missile unit had begun deploying to western Russia, citing Ukrainian military intelligence, with plans to base around 90 North Korean personnel in Russia’s Voronezh region within Russia’s 112th Missile Brigade. Ukrainian intelligence assessed that Russia expects the unit to eventually field 120 North Korean ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes against Ukraine. North Korea has already sent a new batch of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles and accompanying personnel to Russia.
The deployment followed Russia’s first use of North Korean missiles against Ukraine since August 2025. North Korea had supplied Russia with 150 KN-23/24 missiles between late 2023 and August 2025. Separately, around 9,500 North Korean troops remain stationed in Russia’s Kursk region bordering Ukraine. Russia is reportedly preparing to receive as many as 30,000 additional North Korean troops in the Voronezh region.
Efforts Category: North Korea’s Military Support of Russia
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