Russia Bolsters Forces with New Brigades, KN‑23 Missiles Amid Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian media have reported on the formation of two new brigades within the Russian military structure. These brigades could potentially be equipped with highly destructive weapons, such as KN-23 ballistic missiles and Iskander-M systems.

Various observers are discussing this disturbing development, including the Defense Express portal, which specializes in military issues. The portal cites information from the Russian Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST).

Since 2018, North Korea has been producing the KN-23 ballistic missiles, also known under the designation Hwasong-11Ga. It appears that Russia has been receiving these missiles, which are suspected to have started arriving at the beginning of 2024. Multiple incidents have confirmed the use of KN-23 missiles in attacks on Ukrainian positions. The missiles are approximately 24.6 feet long and weigh up to 7,496 pounds, with the warhead alone weighing around 1,102 pounds. Their range exceeds 372 miles, and they are designed as solid-fuel missiles.

Despite scepticism regarding the quality of North Korean military hardware, including concerns about accuracy and the quality of components, the KN-23’s significant destructive capability is undeniable. The missile can devastate an area within about 131 feet radius, a dangerous power demonstrated near Kyiv.

The KN-23 missiles were intended to be part of the arsenal for a new brigade involved in the conflict in Ukraine. However, this does not apply to the brigade equipped with the Iskander-M systems.

As The Moscow Times reported in April, the brigade equipped with Iskander-M systems had been integrated into the newly established Leningrad Military District. It deployed to Karelia near the Finnish border as a nuclear deterrent. The Iskander-M system can be outfitted with nuclear warheads, offering a yield from 5 to 50 kT. In operations targeting Ukraine, however, the systems have been used with conventional fragmentation or cluster warheads. The impact range of these systems is similar to that of about 372 miles.