Daily Flyer - January 23, 2025
A voice of Ukraine to the West

Russian missile attack in Zaporizhzhia killed 1, and injured at least 45 civilians, including an infant

In the early hours of January 23, Russian forces launched a devastating attack on the city of Zaporizhzhia, employing missiles and drones that left one person dead and at least 45 others injured, Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.
The attack claimed the life of a 47-year-old man, while 45 people sustained injuries, including a two-month-old baby. Of the injured, 22 have been hospitalized, with four of the victims identified as employees of Ukraine's State Emergency Service. All four emergency workers are currently receiving medical treatment.
The assault caused significant destruction in residential areas. A multi-story apartment building was completely destroyed, and 30 additional apartment buildings suffered damage. Numerous houses and non-residential buildings were also impacted. Rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency workers searching for victims who may still be trapped beneath the rubble.
According to Governor Fedorov, the attack occurred shortly after 4:00 a.m. local time, following an aerial alert warning of ballistic missile threats in the region. The Air Force later confirmed that Russia had launched four ballistic missiles, either Iskander-M or North Korean KN-23 models, at the city.
Zaporizhzhia, home to around 710,000 residents before Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, has become a frequent target of Russian aggression. The city suffered a deadly attack earlier this month, on January 8, when Russian forces struck an industrial facility, killing 13 people and injuring 122, including a child.
This latest attack underscores the ongoing human and infrastructural toll inflicted on Zaporizhzhia, a city grappling with repeated assaults from Russian forces. The destruction of residential areas and the targeting of civilians and emergency workers highlight the indiscriminate nature of these attacks, further compounding the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Rescue and recovery efforts remain underway as Zaporizhzhia’s residents endure yet another tragic chapter in the ongoing conflict.
Russian forces supposedly killed 6 Ukrainian POWs in Donetsk Oblast
Ukrainian prosecutors have launched an investigation into the alleged summary execution of six Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) by Russian forces in Donetsk Oblast. The Prosecutor General’s Office stated on January 23 in response to a disturbing video circulating on social media, reportedly filmed by Russian soldiers, which depicts the execution of the captives.
The video also shows a seventh Ukrainian soldier lying on the ground, though their fate remains unknown.
According to initial information, the incident occurred during a Russian assault on Ukrainian positions in Donetsk Oblast. Russian soldiers allegedly captured six Ukrainian servicemen and then executed them. Ukrainian officials are working to verify the details and identify those involved.
The execution of prisoners of war constitutes a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions and is considered a war crime under international law. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has already contacted the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross to bring international attention to the case and seek accountability for the perpetrators.
This is not an isolated incident. Throughout Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there have been widespread and documented violations of the Geneva Conventions by Russian forces. According to Lubinets, over 100 Ukrainian POWs were executed by Russian troops in 2024 alone. Reports of torture, abuse, and murder of Ukrainian captives, particularly in the embattled Donetsk region, have surged in recent months.
The emergence of visual evidence documenting these atrocities highlights the persistent disregard by Russian forces for international law and human rights. These incidents further underscore the urgent need for global attention and action to hold those responsible accountable.
As Ukraine continues to gather evidence and work with international organizations, the case serves as a grim reminder of the brutal realities faced by Ukrainian soldiers and the critical importance of enforcing international laws to prevent such war crimes.
North Korea is expected to send artillery units and 150 more ballistic missiles to contribute in Russia’s war in Ukraine
North Korea is preparing to bolster Russia’s military operations in Ukraine by deploying reinforcements to Kursk Oblast and supplying advanced artillery systems and missiles, according to Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. Speaking to The War Zone magazine in an interview published on January 23, Budanov detailed Pyongyang’s expanding support for Moscow’s war effort.
Budanov revealed that North Korea plans to deliver 150 short-range KN-23 ballistic missiles to Russia in 2025, in addition to the 148 missiles already supplied in 2024. Further reinforcements will include 170 mm M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery guns and M-1991 240 mm multiple launch rocket systems. Over the past three months, Pyongyang has already delivered 120 units of each of these systems.
In addition to arms, North Korean soldiers are expected to join Russian forces in Kursk Oblast, where they will train their Russian counterparts on the use of the newly supplied systems. This comes as part of a larger military collaboration between the two nations, with North Korea reportedly becoming a key supplier of artillery ammunition and missiles to Russia.
Since North Korea deployed troops to Russia last fall, its forces have sustained heavy casualties. Kyiv reports that 12,000 North Korean soldiers have joined Russian operations, with an estimated 4,000 casualties recorded so far. The casualty figures cannot be independently verified, but experts attribute the high losses to several factors, including North Korean troops’ inexperience in modern warfare and their use of "human wave" tactics against fortified Ukrainian positions.
The resolve of North Korean troops to avoid capture, even at the cost of their own lives, has further contributed to the casualty rates. Only two North Korean soldiers have been captured by Ukrainian forces since Pyongyang began deploying troops to Kursk Oblast.
Budanov did not specify the exact number of reinforcements or the timeline for their arrival, but The New York Times cited a U.S. official suggesting that additional North Korean troops could reach Kursk Oblast within two months.
Kursk Oblast has emerged as a critical battleground in Russia's efforts to push Ukrainian forces out of the region, which Kyiv has held since August 2024. The area is expected to play a pivotal role in future negotiations, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to push for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
North Korea's deepening involvement in the conflict underscores its role as one of Russia’s key supporters in the war. Beyond military aid, the partnership reflects the alignment of two regimes isolated from much of the international community, leveraging their cooperation to challenge global norms.
The developments highlight the shifting dynamics on the battlefield as Russia seeks to shore up its forces with external assistance while Ukraine continues to resist these combined efforts with the support of its allies.