Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Ukraine Says Russia Received North Korean KN-30 Missiles
Ukraine’s intelligence service says Russia received a type of missile from North Korea called the KN-30.
The report says Russia already has other North Korean missiles, including the KN-23 and KN-24.
Ukraine says some of those missiles have been used in attacks.
The KN-30 is a short-range missile that can be moved and launched from a vehicle.
Its first known test happened in 2021.
North Korea has claimed it can carry a very large warhead, but that claim has not been independently confirmed.
Ukraine also says North Korea started sending a missile unit to Russia’s Voronezh region.
The report did not include a response from Russia or North Korea.
It also said Russia can produce more than 200 cruise and ballistic missiles each month.
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence says Russia has received North Korean KN-30 ballistic missiles.
The agency estimated that Russia had about 50 Kinzhal missiles and roughly 50 North Korean KN-23, KN-24 and KN-30 missiles as of July 2026.
Ukraine says Russia has used North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 missiles in strikes.
The KN-30, also called Hwasong-11C or Hwasong-11Da, is a solid-fuel, short-range ballistic missile launched from a mobile platform.
Ukrainian intelligence also reported that North Korea had begun deploying a missile unit in Russia’s Voronezh region.
- Who
- Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence reported that Russia received KN-30 missiles from North Korea.
- What
- The report alleges a transfer of KN-30 ballistic missiles and describes Russian missile stockpiles and North Korean missile-unit deployment.
- When
- The report was issued on Thursday; the stated stockpile estimate was as of July 2026, with another figure dated August 5.
- Where
- The alleged transfer concerns Russia and North Korea; the reported missile-unit deployment was in Russia’s Voronezh region.
- Why
- The reported transfers are connected to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the use of ballistic missiles in strikes.
Ukrainian intelligence assessment
Unconfirmed aspects
KN-30 transfer
Ukrainian intelligence assessment
Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence says Russia has received North Korean KN-30 ballistic missiles, marking the first reported transfer of this missile type to Moscow.
Unconfirmed aspects
The article provides no response from Russia or North Korea and does not cite independent confirmation of the alleged transfer.
North Korean missile use
Ukrainian intelligence assessment
Ukrainian intelligence says Russia has used North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 missiles in strikes against Ukraine.
Unconfirmed aspects
The article presents this as an intelligence claim and does not provide separate verification or a response from Russia or North Korea.
Missile-unit deployment
Ukrainian intelligence assessment
Ukrainian representative Andrii Cherniak said North Korea had begun deploying a missile unit in Russia’s Voronezh region for strikes against Ukraine.
Unconfirmed aspects
The article does not provide independent evidence or official Russian or North Korean confirmation of the reported deployment.
- Reported missile
- KN-30, the Western designation for North Korea’s Hwasong-11C, also known as Hwasong-11Da.
- Estimated North Korean missile stockpile
- About 50 KN-23, KN-24 and KN-30 missiles in Russia as of July 2026, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
- Kinzhal stockpile
- About 50 missiles, according to the same Ukrainian estimate.
- KN-30 range
- At least 600 kilometres in its first known test launch on March 25, 2021.
- Other Russian missile stocks
- More than 600 Onyx, over 450 Calibre, over 120 Zircon and about 130 Iskander-M missiles, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
- Russian production capacity
- More than 200 cruise and ballistic missiles per month, according to the report.
- Warhead claim
- North Korea has claimed the KN-30 can carry a 2.5-ton warhead, but this has not been independently confirmed.