Seven employees lost their lives at a Ukrainian steel factory on Tuesday during a Russian assault on the city of Zaporizhzhia, as stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who alleged that Moscow employed North Korean ballistic missiles. The Zaporizhstal plant ceased operations following the attack, which involved Zircon hypersonic missiles, guided aerial bombs, and ballistic missiles from Pyongyang.
Metinvest Group, the parent company, reported that the ballistic missile strike occurred while workers were seeking shelter following an air-raid warning, resulting in seven fatalities and 24 injuries. The assault led to a complete halt in production at the plant, with other affected facilities running at reduced capacity.
Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed strikes on a metallurgical plant in Zaporizhzhia that produced flat-rolled steel used by the Ukrainian military. Additionally, Russian forces targeted the Nova Poshta sorting complex in Kyiv, described as a hub for dual-use goods, including drone components and electronic warfare equipment.
In separate incidents, six individuals were killed in Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk, with a Russian assault on Kyiv causing fires. These events followed a Ukrainian drone strike in Nizhnekamsk, Russia, resulting in casualties and injuries, prompting retaliatory drone attacks by Ukraine in Voronezh, Russia.
Moreover, Russia has employed North Korean ballistic missiles extensively in its conflict with Ukraine, with President Zelenskyy revealing plans to deploy tens of thousands of North Korean troops in support of Moscow. The military collaboration between Russia and North Korea has deepened, with North Korea sending troops to Russia in response to previous incursions by Ukrainian forces.
Furthermore, North Korea has supplied Russia with various weapons, including artillery, ballistic missiles, and long-range artillery systems. Meanwhile, Russia has utilized modified Iranian-designed drones in its operations, while Ukraine has benefitted from missile support from allied countries like the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
