Camilla Jessen
Kyiv reveals that Russian forces used North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles with cluster warheads in a Palm Sunday attack that killed 35 civilians in Sumy.
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Ukrainian defense officials have confirmed that North Korean-made ballistic missiles were used in the April 13 attack on the city of Sumy, which killed at least 35 people and injured 117 more.
The deadly strike occurred during Palm Sunday, as families gathered in public areas across the city, making it the deadliest missile attack on Ukraine so far in 2025.
According to Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, the missiles used in the strike were KN-23 systems — short-range ballistic missiles developed by North Korea and modeled after Russia’s Iskander-M. Both missiles are known for their high maneuverability and precision, and both can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads.
In a statement released on April 14, Budanov said the missiles were launched by Russian units stationed in the Voronezh and Kursk regions.
“It is already known that the criminal strike on Sumy with two ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M/KN-23 type was carried out by Russian units of the 112th and 448th missile brigades,” he stated.
This was reported by United24 Media.
Cluster Munitions Allegedly Used
Ukrainian officials also suspect that the missiles were equipped with cluster warheads, designed to spread dozens of smaller bomblets across a wide area.
These types of munitions are widely condemned for their high risk to civilians, particularly due to unexploded submunitions that can remain dangerous long after an attack.
“Reports indicate, as in Kryvyi Rih, cluster munitions were used, increasing the devastation and harm to civilians,” U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink wrote in a statement posted on X. “Our prayers are with the people of Sumy.”
Over 100 countries have banned the use of cluster munitions under the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
However, neither Russia nor the United States is a signatory to the treaty.
Russia Denies Civilian Targeting
Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed the missiles targeted a Ukrainian military command post in Sumy.
Ukrainian authorities, however, strongly deny this, saying the strike hit civilian infrastructure, including residential neighborhoods and public transportation hubs.
Video and eyewitness reports from the aftermath show extensive damage in civilian areas, including destroyed buses, apartment blocks, and shopping areas.
The timing of the attack — on a religious holiday when streets were crowded — has only fueled outrage in Ukraine and abroad.
North Korea’s Growing Role in the War
The confirmed use of North Korean KN-23 missiles marks a concerning development in the war, pointing to deeper military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
The KN-23, with a range of up to 500 kilometers (about 310 miles), is a highly mobile, hard-to-intercept weapon system that adds to Russia’s strike capabilities.
Though Ukraine has previously documented the use of North Korean artillery and ammunition by Russian forces, this is the first official confirmation that ballistic missiles made in North Korea have been used in strikes on Ukrainian cities.