Ukraine recently used British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles to strike military targets inside Russia for the first time.
The attack, aimed at installations near the village of Marino in the Kursk region, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing war.
Reports from Ukrainian media later detailed the impact of the strike, according to L'Independent.
Around 500 North Korean soldiers stationed in the area were reportedly killed, with three others, including two officers and a medic, injured.
The presence of North Korean forces in Russia has raised questions, as they are believed to be assisting Moscow in exchange for oil and anti-aircraft missiles.
Russian casualties were also reported. Eighteen soldiers died, and 30 were injured, including Lieutenant General Valeriy Solodchuk, a senior officer from the Leningrad Military District.
The Storm Shadow missile, developed by the UK and France, is a powerful tool in Ukraine’s arsenal. It has a range of approximately 155 miles (250 kilometers), allowing it to hit targets far behind enemy lines.
The missile carries a 450-kilogram warhead designed to penetrate hardened structures like bunkers and command centers.
Its advanced navigation systems, including GPS and terrain-matching technology, enable precise strikes even in heavily defended areas.
The missile’s long range also lets aircraft launch it from a safe distance, minimizing the risk to pilots.
The transfer of these missiles to Ukraine was approved by the UK earlier this year.
Since then, they’ve been used to disrupt Russian logistics and command operations in occupied regions. By hitting high-value targets, Ukraine has gained a strategic edge in countering Russian forces.
