From January to November this year, Russia fired 194 ballistic missiles at Ukraine. Of these, about 60 are North Korean KN-23 missiles containing components produced in Western countries, CNN reported, quoted by BTA.
The agency's analysis is confirmed by Ukrainian military sources, Ukrinform adds.
It is noted that in August and September, when Ukraine first publicly reported the use of KN-23 missiles by Russia, there was a sharp increase in the number of these attacks.
"We see that since the spring, Russia has used much more ballistic missiles and attack drones to strike Ukraine. And it uses cruise missiles less often," said to CNN the I.D. the head of communications of the Ukrainian Air Force Yury Ignat.
Ukrainian officials have shown CNN fragments of North Korean missiles in which guidance systems containing components made in the United States and Europe were found. The critical components are manufactured by nine Western manufacturers, including companies based in the US, the Netherlands and the UK. Some of these parts were only produced in 2023.
A report published earlier this year by the UK-based Conflict Armament Research (CAR) found that 75% of the components in one of the first North Korean missiles used to attack Ukraine were based in USA companies.
CAR's findings also reveal that more than 250 companies have supplied components found in North Korean missiles. However, most of these electronics are sold to five main distributors that are based in the US and Canada. According to experts, China likely serves as a key supply channel for these components.