Zelenskyy Condemns Russian Use of North Korean Missiles and Renews Urgent Plea for Advanced Air Defenses

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Moscow of deploying North Korean ballistic missiles in recent deadly strikes across Ukraine, including an attack on Zaporizhzhia that killed seven civilians. Highlighting a critical vulnerability against ballistic munitions, the Ukrainian leader is calling on international allies for an immediate increase in Patriot air defense systems to protect residential areas and critical infrastructure.

RMN News War Desk
New Delhi | August 11, 2026

In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Russia is now utilizing North Korean weaponry to sustain its aerial campaign against Ukraine. During a video address, Zelenskyy stated that for the first time, Russia “cannot wage war without reinforcements from North Korea,” warning that the use of these missiles and soldiers allows the two nations to refine their military capabilities, posing a broader threat to global security.

The impact of these foreign-supplied munitions was felt most acutely in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, where ballistic missiles reportedly provided by Pyongyang struck the region, killing seven people and injuring 24 others. All seven fatalities were employees of the Metinvest metallurgical plant, which was forced to halt operations following the strike. Further attacks were reported in Kyiv, Sumy, Kherson, and Kharkiv, causing damage to a children’s hospital and triggering widespread power outages.

These developments follow a massive Russian aerial assault on July 6, 2026, which involved 68 missiles and 351 attack drones. While Ukrainian forces achieved high interception rates for cruise missiles and drones, Zelenskyy highlighted a dangerous “interception gap” regarding ballistic strikes. He emphasized that the failure to neutralize ballistic threats is due solely to an insufficient supply of Patriot interceptors.

In addition to missile technology, Zelenskyy warned that Russia is integrating North Korean manpower into its operations, with reports indicating up to 50,000 soldiers are being prepared for deployment. This follows an earlier deployment of 11,000 North Korean troops to the Kursk region, where Western officials estimate they suffered nearly 40% casualties within three months.

Ukraine has responded with its own deep-strike capabilities, targeting Russian logistics and industrial hubs. Recent operations hit a petrochemical plant in western Siberia and warehouses belonging to Wildberries—Russia’s largest online retailer—in the Voronezh region. Ukrainian officials stated these strikes aim to disrupt the military equipment supply chains used by the Russian army. Zelenskyy maintains that these deep strikes are necessary to demonstrate to the Russian population that a peaceful resolution is essential.