Seven workers lost their lives at a Ukrainian steel facility in Zaporizhzhia during a Russian assault on Tuesday, as per President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who alleged that Moscow utilized North Korean ballistic missiles. The Zaporizhstal plant had to cease operations after being struck by Russia with Zircon hypersonic missiles, guided aerial bombs, and ballistic missiles sourced from Pyongyang.
The parent company Metinvest Group stated that the ballistic missile strike occurred while workers were heading to a shelter following an air-raid warning, resulting in seven fatalities and 24 injuries. The attack led to a complete stop in production at the plant, with other affected sites operating at limited capacity.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Russian forces targeted a metallurgical plant in Zaporizhzhia that manufactured flat-rolled steel utilized by the Ukrainian military. Additionally, the ministry claimed that Russian forces attacked the Nova Poshta sorting complex in Kyiv, which was said to distribute dual-use goods, including drone components and electronic warfare equipment.
Ukraine experienced six more casualties in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk, with a Russian strike in Kyiv causing fires in the city. These incidents followed a Ukrainian drone strike that reportedly resulted in significant civilian casualties in the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk. Another Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Voronezh region resulted in one fatality, two injuries, and fires at warehouse facilities.
In response to Russia’s aggressive actions, Kyiv has been targeting various locations in Russia, including oil refineries and warehouses, such as those owned by online retailer Wildberries. Ukraine recently announced targeting an oil refinery in Orsk during its latest strikes.
North Korea has supplied Russia with a significant number of ballistic missiles since late 2023. President Zelenskyy disclosed that a substantial deployment of North Korean troops had been arranged to support Moscow, marking an expansion of the existing military collaboration between Russia and Pyongyang. The two nations signed a strategic partnership agreement two years ago, including provisions for mutual assistance in case of external threats.
Moreover, North Korea has reportedly provided Russia with artillery, mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, and other military equipment. Russia has been utilizing modified Iran-designed drones, known as the Geran, for reconnaissance and attacks in Ukraine. In contrast, Ukraine has been leveraging missile systems provided by its allied countries like the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and France.