Seven workers lost their lives at a Ukrainian steel plant in Zaporizhzhia during a Russian assault on Tuesday. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged that Moscow employed North Korean ballistic missiles in the attack. The Zaporizhstal plant had to cease operations following the strike, as Russia bombarded Zaporizhzhia with Zircon hypersonic missiles, guided aerial bombs, and ballistic missiles provided by Pyongyang.
The parent company, Metinvest Group, stated that the ballistic missile strike occurred as employees were seeking shelter after an air-raid alert. The company reported seven fatalities and 24 injuries. The attack resulted in a complete halt of production at the plant, with other affected sites operating at reduced capacity.
Russian forces targeted a metallurgical plant in Zaporizhzhia that produces flat-rolled steel, which the Russian Defence Ministry claimed was utilized by the Ukrainian military. Additionally, the ministry mentioned an attack on the Nova Poshta sorting complex in Kyiv, described as a facility distributing dual-use goods including drone components and electronic warfare equipment.
In separate incidents, six individuals were killed in Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions, while a Russian assault in Kyiv sparked fires in the capital. These attacks followed a Ukrainian drone strike that reportedly caused casualties in Nizhnekamsk, Russia. Ukrainian drone operations also led to one fatality and two injuries in Russia’s Voronezh region, causing fires at warehouse facilities.
Furthermore, Ukraine targeted an oil refinery in Orsk during its latest strikes in Russia. Russia has been deploying North Korean ballistic missiles in its attacks on Ukraine since late 2023, expanding their military cooperation. President Zelenskyy disclosed plans for 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean troops to be stationed in Russia to support Moscow’s efforts.
North Korea has supplied Russia with various weaponry, including artillery rounds, ballistic missiles, and long-range artillery systems, according to assessments. Russia has utilized modified Shahed attack drones, named Geran, equipped with jet engines for increased penetration into Ukrainian territory. In contrast, Ukraine has utilized missiles provided by allies such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and France.
