On Thursday, in the early hours of the morning, Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital city, suffered one of the deadliest attacks in recent months, as a number of drones and ballistic missiles struck residential neighborhoods.
This assault killed 12 people, injured 70 and many more trapped under debris. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Accuses Russia of Using North Korean Ballistic Missile in Kyiv Strike as Trump Urges Putin to “Stop.”
According to the preliminary intelligence one of the missiles used was manufactured in North Korea and this revelation has ignited alarm across the global community.
Zelensky Accuses Russia of Using North Korean Ballistic Missile in Kyiv Strike as Trump Urges Putin to “Stop”
Zelensky: “Russia Used North Korean Missile”
In a post on social media, President Zelensky, stated, “According to preliminary information, the Russians used a ballistic missile manufactured in North Korea. Our special services are verifying all the details.” He further warned that if this is confirmed, it would be “further proof of the criminal nature of the alliance between Russia and Pyongyang.” Later he called the partnership one of “killing people and tormenting lives together.”
According to the military experts and Ukrainian sources Russians used the KN-23 missile. They cited it is a North Korean short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) with a range of up to 690 km and the capability of carrying a one-tonne warhead. The Russian Iskander-M missile is similar to the North Korean short-range ballistic missile which raises questions about foreign collaboration in weapons development and violations of UN arms embargoes.
Trump Reacts: “Vladimir, STOP!”
U.S. President Donald Trump, criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin, took to Truth Social, writing, “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” Trump’s rebuke follows earlier comments where he blamed Zelensky for stalling peace negotiations by refusing to consider territorial concessions, especially regarding Crimea.
U.S. Pressure Mounts for Peace Deal
Trump’s proposed peace plan which is still unpublished, despite Trump’s optimism, has reportedly been rejected by Zelensky. The peace plan’s leaked details, include controversial terms such as freezing the front lines, recognizing Russia’s control over Crimea, and blocking Ukraine’s entry into NATO. Ukraine can receive security guarantees by joining the EU and from a “coalition of the willing,” but the U.S. would refrain from offering a direct military guarantee.
Trump’s stand has sparked criticism, specially from those who point out that the Ukrainian constitution as a major legal barrier to any territorial compromise. The Ukrainian Constitution’s Article 2 explicitly states that the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are “indivisible and inviolable.” Any alteration requires a national referendum, which cannot be held under martial law.
Kyiv Still Reeling as Rescue Efforts Continue
The attack caused widespread devastation in the Svyatoshinsky district which was confirmed by Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko. In residential buildings, fires broke out and six children along with a pregnant woman were among the injured. Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported ongoing rescue operations, with mobile phones heard ringing beneath the rubble. Ten people remain missing, and fears grow for their survival.
Russia-North Korea Military Ties Deepen
Russia has faced increasing international isolation, since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and has reportedly turned to North Korea for military support. Pyongyang has supplied Moscow with artillery, rocket systems, and now ballistic missiles like the KN-23, as claimed by Ukrainian officials. Both Russia and North Korea deny such exchanges, but global scrutiny and pressure is likely to escalate by Thursday’s strike.
Also known as the Hwasong-11A, the KN-23 missile, is considered more advanced than many Russian alternatives, adding to Ukraine’s defense concerns. In a dense urban area like Kyiv the missile’s deployment, further demonstrates the evolving nature of Russian warfare in Ukraine.
NATO: “Ball Is in Russia’s Court”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in response to the latest developments, during a press briefing stated, “There is something on the table now… the Ukrainians are really playing ball. The ball is clearly in the Russian court now.” He emphasized that the West is pushing for diplomacy but recognized the difficult concessions that both Kyiv and Moscow would need to make.
Crimea at the Heart of the Conflict
For Ukraine, the fate of Crimea remains a non-negotiable issue. Consistently, Zelensky has reaffirmed that Crimea is an inseparable part of Ukraine, citing on both constitutional and moral grounds. The indigenous population of the peninsula, Crimean Tatars, also reject categorically, Russian claims to the region. The head of the Mejlis, Refat Chubarov, stated, “Crimea is the homeland of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people and an integral part of Ukraine.”
Economic Talks Progress but Security Guarantees Missing
Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko, confirmed that an agreement on a joint critical mineral’s investment fund is nearing finalization between Kyiv and Washington. This deal would see both nations co-own a fund receiving 50% of profits from Ukraine’s natural resources, aiding in the country’s post-war recovery. However, in the agreement, the security guarantees that Ukraine is demanding as part of any long-term peace deal is not living up to the expectations.
Conclusion: A Crisis at a Crossroads
If confirmed, the use of North Korean missiles by Russia, would mark a dangerous escalation in the global implications of the war in Ukraine. Kyiv, as the world watches, pleads for stronger international action against Moscow, while Trump, with controversial terms, attempts to revive peace negotiations. With cities shattered and lives lost, the balance of global alliances and the future of Ukraine, hangs in the balance.
Also Read: Trump Pressures Ukraine to Cede Crimea as U.S. Shifts Toward Russian-Led Peace Plan
Also Read: Trump Says Russia and Ukraine ‘Close to a Deal’ as Kyiv Pushes for Unconditional Ceasefire
