Ukraine: Russia Uses 'Non-Russian' Missiles; Blame Pointed at the Islamic Republic and North Korea

Ukraine claims that Russia has attacked Ukraine using missiles made in North Korea. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the President of Ukraine, wrote on social media platform X on Friday, January 5: 'There is no longer any concealment... The Russian Federation has, with the clear aim of genocide, attacked the territory of Ukraine for the first time with missiles received from North Korea.' Podolyak stated: '(Russia) attacks Ukrainians with missiles taken from a country where citizens are tortured in labor camps for having an unlicensed radio, talking to tourists, and watching television programs.' Podolyak did not provide evidence that these missiles are made in North Korea. However, John Kirby, the National Security Council's Strategic Communications Coordinator at the White House, referred on Thursday, January 4, to an agreement between Russia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and North Korea for military weapon purchases. In a press conference on Thursday, Kirby expressed concern over the progress of negotiations between the Islamic Republic and Russia for the sale of short-range ballistic missiles to Moscow, stating that Russia has also purchased ballistic missiles from North Korea and is employing them. Ukrainian state media reported on Friday that the governor of the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine stated that missiles produced outside of Russia were fired at this province in early January. The governor, following Kirby's remarks, told local media that Russia has recently used short-range ballistic missiles received from North Korea to carry out numerous attacks against Ukraine. He also mentioned: 'We are conducting all necessary investigations. For now, I can say that the markings on these missiles have been removed, but we can see that the country that produced them is not the Russian Federation.' Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran had previously agreed to establish a mass drone production factory in Russia. Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, has previously stated that the development and proliferation of missiles and related technology by the Islamic Republic is 'one of the greatest challenges to international peace and security.' The UK also condemned Russia for using North Korean-made ballistic missiles in recent attacks against Ukraine after information was provided by Washington. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office on Thursday issued a strong condemnation of Moscow's actions, stating: 'We urge North Korea to stop sending weapons to Russia.' The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing U.S. officials, that the United States is concerned that increasing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran not only aids its military capabilities in the war in Ukraine but also enhances the military capabilities of the Islamic Republic in the Middle East and potentially generates revenue to bolster the economy of the Islamic Republic, which has been damaged under Western sanctions.