A second impact crater from a KN-23 missile was discovered in Ukraine following the Russian attack
During the attack on July 30, Russia fired two North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles at the Kryvyi Rih district. While one of them struck a residential building and claimed the lives of an entire family, the second exploded in a field several kilometers from the site of the tragedy.
Vladislav Vlasyuk, the President of Ukraine’s Representative for Sanctions Policy, reported the discovery of the second impact crater. According to him, the missile fell far from any military facilities, which once again highlights the danger such strikes pose to the civilian population.
In the Kryvyi Rih district, authorities located the impact site of the second North Korean KN-23 ballistic missile, which Russian forces used during the massive shelling of Ukraine on July 30. This was reported by Vladislav Vlasyuk, the President’s Representative on Sanctions Policy.
According to him, the first KN-23 missile struck a private home in the village of Radushne near Kryvyi Rih. Six people were killed in the strike, including three children. Five more minors are considered missing. “The first missile of this type struck a private home in Radushne near Kryvyi Rih. Six people were killed, including three children, and five minors are considered missing. The second KN-23 exploded in a field. The distance between these ‘hits’ is 3.5 km. There are no potential targets within a 5-km radius. That’s the level of precision,” Vlasyuk noted.
He explained that the North Korean KN-23 missile is essentially an analogue of the Russian “Iskander” system. According to him, these missiles have similar characteristics and even share the same components, including parts manufactured in the West. “This is one example of Russia’s dependence on military aid from North Korea. North Korean missiles kill Ukrainian civilians just as Russian ones do. And everyone who facilitates the military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang and the supply of critical components to the military-industrial complex must bear responsibility for this,” the official emphasized.
As a reminder, on the night of July 30, Russian troops attacked the Kryvyi Rih district with ballistic missiles. One of the missiles struck a private home in the village of Radushne. The victims of the strike were 47-year-old Artem Voronov and his 41-year-old wife, Olena. At the time of the attack, seven minor children and a one-and-a-half-year-old grandson were also in the house. The family was raising ten children. Their eldest son is currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two other children were abroad at the time of the tragedy. Mark, 17, remained in the house, along with his younger siblings—Dominika, Viorika, Zakhar, Azariy Ilay, Veronika, and Emilia.
Due to the force of the explosion and the extensive damage, some of the victims will have to be identified through forensic examination. The Ukrainian military had previously reported Russia’s use of North Korean missiles. The most recent such incident was officially confirmed in August 2025. The discovery of the crater left by the second KN-23 missile provided further confirmation that Russia continues to use weapons obtained from North Korea in its strikes on Ukrainian territory.
