In a shocking revelation, Mykhailo Podolyak, a close aide to the Ukrainian President, has confirmed that Russia fired North Korean missiles on Ukraine for the first time during the ongoing war. This confirmation aligns with the claims made earlier by the United States.

According to Podolyak, the Russian Federation has launched missiles received from North Korea, exposing their involvement in what he described as an "outright genocidal war." His statement was posted on Platform X on January 5, removing any doubt about Russia's role in the conflict.

The confirmation comes after the White House's National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson, John Kirby, announced that Russian forces were using North Korean-made short-range ballistic missiles against targets in Ukraine. Kirby mentioned that credible intelligence reports obtained by Washington support these claims.

The missile attacks occurred on December 30, 2023, and January 2, 2024, with at least one missile landing in the Zaporizhzhia region of southeastern Ukraine. The scale of the attacks has been significant, with hundreds of missiles and drones fired on Kyiv and neighboring areas, including the use of hypersonic missiles.

The specific type of missiles provided by North Korea to Russia has not been officially confirmed. However, images analyzed by experts indicate that the missiles may include the KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles. These missiles reportedly have a range of approximately 900 kilometers.

Reports of arms deals between North Korea and Russia have circulated for some time, with speculation about artillery shells, anti-tank missiles, and other weapons being supplied. South Korean authorities previously claimed that about 2,000 containers of military equipment and munitions were shipped from North Korea to Russia's Far East.

The confirmation of North Korean missile usage against Ukraine raises concerns about Russia's possible attempts to acquire ballistic missiles from Iran as well. Unnamed Iranian officials revealed in 2022 that agreements had been signed between Russia and Iran for the supply of drones and short-range ballistic missiles.

Furthermore, speculation has arisen about Russia pressuring Iran to provide more short-range ballistic missiles. There are concerns that Iran may transfer Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar tactical ballistic missiles, with ranges of 300 and 700 kilometers, respectively, to Russia.

These alleged acquisitions of ballistic missiles suggest a larger strategy by Russia to compensate for the depletion of its own missile stock. Experts believe that Russia may be willing to exchange cheap Iranian missiles for its own sophisticated and expensive ones to counter Ukraine's Western-origin missile defense systems.

While Russia has yet to respond to these allegations, the confirmation of North Korean missile usage adds a new dimension to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The international community must closely monitor the situation and assess the impact of these new developments on the escalating war.