Russia may have used North Korean ballistic missile to kill large family near Zelenskyy's hometown
Photo: The aftermath of the missile strike on Radushne (t.me/dnipropetrovskaODA)
According to Reuters' sources, the long pause in Russia's use of North Korean ballistic missiles suggests that Moscow has received a new shipment of weapons from Pyongyang.
If confirmed, it would be the first known use of a North Korean missile in the war in nearly a year.
The newly acquired stockpile would allow Russian forces to sustain and increase the intensity of strikes on civilian infrastructure and Ukrainian cities during the current escalation of aerial attacks.
Reuters also noted that Russia has previously used North Korean missiles in strikes against Ukraine.
Earlier, Yurii Ihnat, head of communications for the Ukrainian Air Force, said Russia may have used North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles during the overnight attack.
Strike on home of a large family
According to local authorities, Russian forces launched a missile strike on the village of Radushne in the Kryvyi Rih district during the night of July 30. The attack completely destroyed a private home where a large family lived.
According to local media, the victims were 47-year-old Artem Voronov and his 41-year-old wife, Olena. They were at home with seven of their children: 17-year-old Mark, who was studying to become a railway worker in Kryvyi Rih, and schoolchildren Dominika, 15; Viorika, 14; Zakharii, 12; Azarii Ilai, 11; Federika, 10; and six-year-old Emilia.
The family's grandmother said Artem and Olena were raising ten children and already had three grandchildren. At the time of the Russian strike, the couple, seven of their younger children, and their one-and-a-half-year-old grandson Artem, who was visiting them, were inside the house. All of them were trapped under the rubble.
According to her, the eldest son, Danylo, the father of the toddler who was killed, is currently serving as a captain in the artillery forces. Two other adult children of the couple are living abroad: daughter Aurika lives in Germany, while son Matvii is in Poland.
According to preliminary information, eight people, including two children, were injured in the missile strike. Another five people are considered missing.
The search and rescue operation at the impact site continued throughout the night.
