Russia is preparing to deploy a North Korean missile unit in its Voronezh region as military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang deepens, according to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, in an assessment its representative Andrii Cherniak gave in an exclusive interview with Reuters.

Source: Defense Express, reporting the Reuters interview

According to Cherniak, the planned unit will be equipped with six launchers and 120 North Korean-made ballistic missiles, and the North Korean contingent will consist of approximately 90 military personnel.

120North Korean ballistic missiles planned for the unit, per Ukrainian intelligence
6launchers planned for the deployment in the Voronezh region
~90North Korean personnel expected in the contingent
40KN-23/KN-24 ballistic missiles already shipped in an initial batch, with personnel, per Cherniak

The unit is expected to operate as part of Russia's 112th Missile Brigade, Cherniak said — meaning North Korean troops could be integrated directly into an existing Russian missile formation rather than serving independently.

Final shape still to be negotiated

Cherniak said Pyongyang has already shipped an initial batch of 40 KN-23/KN-24 ballistic missiles to Russia along with North Korean personnel. However, he noted that the final deployment configuration and the overall number of missiles are expected to be determined during high-level negotiations between the two countries scheduled for next month.

He also said North Korea supplied Russia with approximately 150 ballistic missiles between 2023 and 2025. The KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles have been repeatedly linked to strikes against Ukrainian territory, with Ukrainian officials and international observers documenting their use in previous attacks.

Source: Defense Express

A second report of the same Reuters interview said at least two North Korean missiles were launched at Ukraine last week, and recalled that North Korea has already sent around 14,000 to 15,000 soldiers to Russia's Kursk region, with Moscow and Pyongyang confirming in April 2025 that North Korean troops had fought Ukrainian forces there. The Voronezh deployment figures themselves remain a Ukrainian intelligence assessment, not an independently confirmed movement.

Source: Mogaz News, reporting the same assessment

For Ukraine, the significance — if the deployment proceeds as assessed — is that North Korean support would move from supplying missiles and troops to directly crewing a missile unit on Russian soil, within range of Ukrainian territory.