North Korea supplies Russia with new KN-30 ballistic missiles

North Korea has reportedly delivered new KN-30 (Hwasong-11C) short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, according to data from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR MO). This delivery adds to previous shipments of KN-23 and KN-24 missiles, with HUR MO estimating the total supply of these three types at approximately 50 units.

Simultaneously, Russia is facing increasing challenges in protecting its territory from Ukrainian long-range drone attacks. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggest that the demand for air defense is outstripping the capacity of the Russian domestic arms industry. While Russian authorities are attempting to shift infrastructure protection responsibilities to regional administrations and businesses through passive methods like nets and shelters, experts suggest these decentralized approaches may not adequately address the scale of the threat or the geographic limitations of the country.