Seven workers lost their lives at a steel plant in Ukraine on Tuesday during a Russian assault on the city of Zaporizhzhia, as confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy who mentioned the use of North Korean ballistic missiles by Moscow in the attack. The Zaporizhstal plant had to cease operations after being hit in the assault, where Zaporizhzhia was bombarded with Zircon hypersonic missiles, guided aerial bombs, and ballistic missiles reportedly provided by Pyongyang.
According to the parent company Metinvest Group, the ballistic missile strike occurred as employees were seeking shelter following an air-raid alert, resulting in seven fatalities and 24 injuries. The plant’s production came to a standstill due to the attack, with other affected facilities running at reduced capacity.
On the other hand, Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed targeting a metallurgical plant in Zaporizhzhia that manufactures flat-rolled steel allegedly used by the Ukrainian military. Additionally, Russian forces reportedly struck the Nova Poshta sorting complex in Kyiv, described as handling dual-use goods, including components for drones and electronic warfare equipment.
Ukraine experienced further casualties with six individuals killed in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk overnight, while a Russian attack on Kyiv caused fires in the city. These incidents followed a recent Ukrainian drone strike in Nizhnekamsk, Russia, resulting in a significant civilian toll. Ukraine’s drone attacks have been targeting various locations in Russia, including oil refineries and warehouses, while Russia has retaliated using North Korean ballistic missiles and Iran-designed drones.
Notably, there has been an ongoing military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, with troops and weapons supplied by North Korea playing a significant role in the conflict. Ukraine, on the other hand, has been receiving missile support from various allies such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and France in its defense efforts.