At least six people were killed during a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia. The strikes also caused damage to industrial facilities, infrastructure, and non-residential buildings in the region.
At least 19 people were injured in the Zaporizhzhia attack. Some sources report 20 injured. The Ukrainian officials stated that the Russian military launched 120 drones and multiple types of missiles, including ballistic, cruise, and guided varieties, during the overnight offensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of using North Korean ballistic missiles in the attack on Zaporizhzhia. He identified 'Zircons' and guided aerial bombs as weapons used in the strikes.
A brutal attack, designed to inflict maximum damage precisely on civilian infrastructure.
Zelensky stated that this is the first time Russia could not wage war without supplements from North Korea. He warned that between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean troops are being deployed to Russian territory.
Widespread strikes across Ukraine and Russia
In Kyiv, Russian missile and drone attacks damaged a hospital and caused a fire in a warehouse. One injury was reported in the capital.
Strikes on electrical infrastructure caused power outages in Kherson and Kharkiv. In Sumy, a Russian drone strike injured two women, aged 52 and 66, according to one report.
Ukrainian drone strikes hit Wildberries logistics centers in Voronezh, Russia, killing a 49-year-old man, according to one report. While the company evacuated facilities, it claimed no product damage occurred.
Ukrainian strikes on Tatarstan, Russia, killed at least 13 people and injured approximately 40. Seven of those killed were citizens of Uzbekistan, according to one report.
North Korean involvement and regional tensions
Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense pact in June 2024. North Korean troops have participated in Russian counteroffensives in the Kursk region, a deployment Pyongyang confirmed for the first time.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service estimated that about 600 North Korean soldiers were killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine. The agency further estimated total North Korean casualties, including injuries and deaths, at approximately 4,700.
According to one report, about 2,000 injured North Korean soldiers were repatriated to North Korea by air or train between January and March. Additionally, the South Korean Unification Ministry noted that North Korea's economy is showing signs of recovery due to strengthened ties with Russia and China.
The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed its forces conducted a group strike with high-precision ground-based weapons targeting military-industrial enterprises and transport-logistics centers in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia.
The Ukrainian government has repeatedly requested Western allies to supply more Patriot air-defense interceptors. President Zelensky has also called on South Korea to support and cooperate with Ukraine regarding air-defense systems.
The Ukrainian Air Force stated that 98 Russian drones were shot down or disabled by electronic warfare. The Air Force also urged media not to spread pessimism regarding air-defense interceptor shortages.
