Seven workers lost their lives at a Ukrainian steel plant in Zaporizhzhia during a Russian assault on Tuesday. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Moscow utilized North Korean ballistic missiles in the attack. The Zaporizhstal plant had to cease operations after being struck by Zircon hypersonic missiles, guided aerial bombs, and ballistic missiles reportedly provided by Pyongyang.
According to the parent company Metinvest Group, the ballistic missile strike occurred as employees were seeking shelter following an air-raid alert, resulting in seven deaths and 24 injuries. The attack not only halted production at the plant but also impacted other facilities in the area, which were operating at reduced capacity.
The Russian Defence Ministry reported that Russian forces targeted a metallurgical plant in Zaporizhzhia that produces flat-rolled steel, allegedly used by the Ukrainian military. Additionally, Russian forces were said to have attacked the Nova Poshta sorting complex in Kyiv, described as a facility distributing dual-use goods, including components for drones and electronic warfare equipment.
Despite the use of North Korean missiles in the Zaporizhzhia attack, Russia did not confirm this information immediately, with no response from Pyongyang. In other events, six individuals were killed in Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions, while a Russian strike in Kyiv caused fires in the capital.
Ukraine has been retaliating with drone attacks, targeting various locations in Russia, including oil refineries and warehouses, like those operated by Wildberries. The escalating conflict has seen Ukraine conducting strikes on Russian soil, including an oil refinery in Orsk in its latest offensive.
The military collaboration between Russia and North Korea has seen an increase in the deployment of North Korean troops and weaponry to support Moscow’s efforts in Ukraine. Zelenskyy revealed plans to deploy tens of thousands of North Korean soldiers in Russia. The strategic partnership treaty signed between Russia and North Korea has led to extensive military cooperation, with North Korea previously sending soldiers to assist Russia in regional conflicts.
In addition to troops, North Korea has supplied Russia with various weapons, including artillery, mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, and long-range artillery systems. Russia has also utilized Iranian-designed attack drones, known as Shahed, adapted to enhance their capabilities in the conflict. On the other hand, Ukraine has received missile support from allies such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and France.