Russian forces fired North Korean missiles at a key energy facility overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Moscow was once again ramping up strikes ahead of winter.
Zelenskyy said Russia launched 36 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and the surrounding region, four of which were shot down. According to preliminary findings, Russians used KN-23 missiles manufactured and supplied by North Korea at one of the key energy facilities that was damaged.
The KN-23 is a North Korean short-range ballistic missile with a top range of about 690 km, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Ukraine's defence ministry said in April this year that the weapon has been used in previous attacks and is extremely difficult for air defence systems to deal with. North Korea is believed to have sent more than 16,000 troops to support Russian forces since October 2024, as well as providing munitions. In June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia's latest attacks targeted critical energy infrastructure and that Moscow is deliberately seeking to leave millions of Ukrainians without electricity, heating, and water as winter approaches. Zelenskyy said the strikes may also be part of a Kremlin ploy to pressure Ukraine's negotiating position ahead of planned trilateral talks between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington in Abu Dhabi.
Overnight strikes on the Kyiv region left at least six people, including a child, injured, and damaged a bridge and energy facilities, local authorities and Ukraine's State Emergency Service said. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the Pivnichnyi Bridge had been hit, and energy infrastructure in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions had also been damaged. Klitschko said the situation regarding the capital's energy supply was extremely difficult, with disruptions to the city's heating and water supply systems. Zelenskyy said the strikes targeted a substation connecting the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi nuclear plants to Kyiv, as well as substations in several other regions. Zelenskyy added that a kindergarten was partially destroyed.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Winter attacks on Ukraine's energy grid threaten to cause widespread blackouts and humanitarian hardship for millions of civilians.
- The use of North Korean-supplied missiles marks a deepening of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, potentially escalating the conflict.
- Planned US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi may be complicated by Russia's campaign to weaken Ukraine's bargaining position.
Background
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's power grid during wartime winter periods in an effort to break the country's resolve. North Korea has become a key supplier of munitions and troops to Russia since late 2024, with a strategic partnership treaty signed in June that year. The KN-23 missile has been used in previous attacks on Ukraine, according to Kyiv's defence ministry.
What to Watch
- Upcoming trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington, which may be affected by the intensified strikes.
- Further Russian missile and drone attacks on energy infrastructure as winter deepens.
- Any additional deliveries of Western air defence systems, which Zelenskyy has called for to counter ballistic missiles.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedRussia used North Korean missiles to hit a key Ukrainian energy facility overnight, according to Zelenskyy.Euronews: “Russian forces fired North Korean missiles at a "key" energy facility overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday”
- SupportedOvernight strikes on the Kyiv region injured at least six people, including a child.Euronews: “Overnight strikes on the Kyiv region left at least six people, including a child, injured, and damaged a bridge and energy facilities”
- SupportedWinter attacks target Ukraine’s power grid.Euronews: “Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's power grid during wartime winter periods in a campaign to break the country's resolve.”
- SupportedSybiha said Moscow was once again ramping up strikes ahead of winter.Euronews: “Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia's latest attacks had targeted "critical energy infrastructure" as Moscow once again ramps up strikes ahead of the winter months.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said Russia launched 36 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and the surrounding region.Euronews: “Zelenskyy said Russia had launched 36 ballistic missiles at the capital Kyiv and the surrounding region and that four were shot down.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said four of the missiles were shot down.Euronews: “Zelenskyy said Russia had launched 36 ballistic missiles at the capital Kyiv and the surrounding region and that four were shot down.”
- SupportedPreliminary findings indicated that Russians used North Korean-manufactured and supplied KN-23 missiles at a damaged key energy facility.Euronews: “According to preliminary findings, at one of the key energy facilities that was damaged, the Russians used KN-23 missiles manufactured and supplied by North Korea”
- SupportedThe KN-23 has a top range of about 690 km, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.Euronews: “The KN-23 is a North Korean short-range ballistic missile with a top range of around 690 km, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Missile Threat site.”
- SupportedUkraine’s defence ministry said the KN-23 had been used in previous attacks and was extremely difficult for air defences to deal with.Euronews: “Ukraine's defence ministry said in April this year that the KN-23 has been used in previous attacks on Ukraine, adding that the weapon was "extremely difficult for air defence systems to deal with."”
- SupportedNorth Korea is believed to have sent more than 16,000 troops to support Russian forces since October 2024, as well as providing munitions.Euronews: “North Korea is believed to have sent more than 16,000 troops to support Russian forces since October 2024, as well as providing munitions.”
- SupportedZelenskyy said the strikes were likely part of a Kremlin effort to pressure Ukraine’s negotiating position ahead of planned trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi.Euronews: “Zelenskyy said the strikes were also likely part of a Kremlin ploy to put additional pressure on Ukraine's negotiating position ahead of planned trilateral talks between Kyiv, Moscow and Washington in Abu Dhabi.”
- SupportedThe overnight strikes damaged a bridge and energy facilities.Euronews: “Overnight strikes on the Kyiv region left at least six people, including a child, injured, and damaged a bridge and energy facilities, local authorities and Ukraine's State Emergency Service said.”