Seven individuals lost their lives at a steel factory in Ukraine on Tuesday during a Russian assault on the city of Zaporizhzhia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Moscow utilized North Korean ballistic missiles in the attack. The Zaporizhstal plant had to cease operations after being struck by Zircon hypersonic missiles, guided aerial bombs, and ballistic missiles from North Korea.
Metinvest Group, the parent company, stated that the ballistic missile strike occurred as workers were seeking shelter following an air-raid alert. The company confirmed seven fatalities and 24 injuries. The plant’s production came to a standstill due to the attack, with other affected facilities operating at reduced capacity.
According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, the assault targeted a metallurgical plant in Zaporizhzhia that produced flat-rolled steel used by the Ukrainian military. Additionally, Russian forces attacked the Nova Poshta sorting complex in Kyiv, which was involved in distributing dual-use goods, including components for drones and electronic warfare equipment.
In separate incidents, six individuals were killed in Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions in Ukraine, and fires erupted in Kyiv due to a Russian offensive. These attacks followed a Ukrainian drone strike in Nizhnekamsk, Russia, which resulted in casualties and injuries. Ukrainian drones also caused damage in Voronezh region, affecting warehouse facilities, including those of Wildberries.
Ukraine retaliated by targeting Russian sites such as oil refineries and warehouses belonging to Wildberries. Kyiv announced its latest strike on an oil refinery in Orsk. Russia has utilized North Korean ballistic missiles extensively in the conflict with Ukraine, with recent reports indicating an increased military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
President Zelenskyy disclosed that North Korean troops were being deployed to assist Russia, further solidifying the partnership between the two countries. North Korea had previously sent soldiers to Russia in response to Ukrainian actions in the Kursk Region. Apart from soldiers, North Korea has supplied Russia with various military equipment, while Russia has employed advanced attack drones in the conflict. In contrast, Ukraine has utilized missiles provided by allies such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and France.