In a significant move escalating the conflict in Eastern Europe, Russia has initiated the deployment of a North Korean missile unit, according to an intelligence source from Ukraine. The unit reportedly comes equipped with as many as 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers, and is intended to bolster Russia’s campaign in Ukraine, a Ukrainian intelligence official disclosed to Reuters on Wednesday.

This development highlights a tightening of military relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. Around 90 personnel from North Korea are anticipated to be stationed in Russia’s western Voronezh region to facilitate the integration of this new unit, as reported by Andrii Cherniak from Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR).

Adding to the complexity of the situation, Cherniak revealed that North Korea has already supplied Russia with a fresh consignment of 40 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles, as confirmed by Reuters.

High-level negotiations are set to conclude next month, finalizing the specifics of this deployment and further shaping the future landscape of the regional conflict.

The intelligence report follows a massive Russian barrage against Kyiv and the surrounding region Aug. 4. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow launched 24 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and 115 drones overnight, killing at least 17 people.

Zelenskyy argued more lives could have been saved had Western allies replenished Ukraine’s depleted stockpiles of air defense interceptors.

Zelenskyy previously warned that Moscow had been preparing since June to receive additional North Korean military personnel in the Voronezh region, according to reports.

Cherniak told Reuters a Russian strike in late July marked the first recorded use of North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukrainian targets since August 2025.

According to HUR estimates, Russia has received approximately 150 KN-23 and KN-24 missiles from North Korea since late 2023.

Military analysts say Russia is increasingly relying on ballistic weapons because they require advanced defense systems — such as the U.S.-made Patriot — to intercept.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed that Russia is deliberately incorporating more ballistic missiles into its long-range strike packages to maximize pressure on Ukraine’s limited air defenses.

ISW added that North Korea is gaining critical battlefield data from the conflict, allowing Pyongyang to refine its missile performance using Russian operational experience.

North Korea has emerged as one of Moscow’s key military allies since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.

Reuters reported that Pyongyang has supplied millions of artillery shells and previously sent 14,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region to counter Ukraine’s 2024 cross-border incursion.

Cherniak also noted that roughly 9,500 North Korean troops are still in Kursk, though they are not engaged in active combat right now.

A report by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) states that, since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, North Korea has supplied Moscow with large quantities of artillery and rocket ammunition, cannon and rocket artillery systems and ballistic missiles.

The policy institute described the Russia-North Korea relationship as one of the “most consequential among the Axis” and the only partnership in which one member has deployed troops in combat to assist another.

In a chilling incident that has left a Missouri community reeling, a mother and her teenage daughter were fatally shot by their elderly neighbor over a dispute about noise. The confrontation turned deadly outside their House Springs home, and days later, the perpetrator succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Jessica Lashly, 38, and her 17-year-old daughter, Jersey Greer, tragically lost their lives after an encounter with their 73-year-old neighbor, Robert Winkelman, on the night of July 25. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the fatal confrontation occurred around 8:30 p.m., sparked by a complaint regarding noise and other activities at the Lashly residence.

Winkelman approached his neighbor’s home to voice his grievances, confronting Lashly in a dramatic escalation. The argument quickly turned violent after a comment from Lashly reportedly infuriated Winkelman.

In a shocking turn of events, Winkelman produced a firearm and shot Jessica Lashly in the head, authorities reported. The horrific scene unfolded further when Jersey Greer, witnessing her mother’s fall, rushed to provide aid but became a victim herself as Winkelman turned the weapon on her, fatally wounding the teenager.

Greer rushed to give first aid to her wounded mother, but the crazed neighbor fired his gun at the teen, also striking her in the head.

“Jersey’s last moments, she was trying to save my mom,” Greer’s twin sister, Justice, told KSDK. “It just shows how brave she is, and I hope I can be half as brave as she is.”

Justice Greer, who was at work during the shooting, says her mother and sister had just returned to the house when Winkelman accosted them.

“They had just gotten home, and I kept thinking I wish my mom weren’t outside at that time. Obviously it wasn’t her fault. We don’t even know our neighbors, so it’s not anything she could’ve controlled,” the grieving teen said.

Winkelman allegedly chased a third person at the home but didn’t fire a shot.

Police reported to the house, where they found Winkelman and attempted to detain him, but the gunman turned the gun around and shot himself in the head.

Lashly, Greer and Winkelman were all rushed to local hospitals in critical condition.

Lashly and Greer died two days later on July 27, their family wrote in their shared obituary.

“Though their lives ended far too soon, the love they shared as mother and daughter will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew them,” the family wrote.

At the time of her death, Jersey Greer donated several of her organs to help six patients across the country, her friends said on social media.

“Knowing that three children and three adults have another chance at life because of Jersey brings a measure of peace during this hard season of our lives,” the post read. “While we would give anything to have her here, we are so proud of the incredible gift she gave.”

Greer, a rising high school senior who played lacrosse with her twin sister at Northwest High School, dreamed of playing college lacrosse with her twin sister after graduation.

“She was literally just the funniest person ever,” Justice Greer said of her sister. “She could make anybody laugh. She was really supportive about anything and everything. She could always tell when someone was sad or needed uplifting, and she was always the one to do it.”

Her teammates remembered her as a compassionate leader with a great personality.

“If you know Jersey, you know the joy, kindness, and light she brings to everyone around her. As her lacrosse family, we have witnessed her strength, determination, and the incredible person she is both on and off the field. Now it’s our turn to stand beside her and her family,” the team wrote in a GoFundMe.

Following the deaths of Lashly and Greer, officials obtained a no-bond arrest warrant for Winkelman, who was still hospitalized in critical condition.

He was charged with two counts of Assault in the First Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

Winkelman, however, died Sunday from his gunshot wound and is unable to be tried for the horrific murder, the sheriff’s office said in an update on Tuesday.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

A Canadian woman, facing deportation after slapping a teenager for wearing a MAGA hat, has struggled to gather enough financial support for her legal battle, falling short of her goal by more than half.

Kaitlyn Tracey, 33, found herself at the center of controversy after being caught on camera attacking a girl on the Jersey Shore boardwalk during Fourth of July festivities. She later surrendered to authorities after video evidence of the incident surfaced, leading to a warrant for her arrest.

Tracey, whose visa had expired, was residing illegally in the U.S. at the time. This led to her being placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and detained at the infamous Delaney Hall facility.

Recently, Tracey was moved to ICE’s processing center in Laredo, Texas. During a telephonic hearing in the state, she admitted to misdemeanor simple assault. Consequently, a judge mandated her deportation.

In an effort to aid her legal defense, an online fundraising campaign was launched in mid-July, aiming for $10,000. However, by Wednesday evening, the fund had only reached $4,857.

Earlier that month, Tracey’s husband, Matthew Geroni, 42, had set up a GoFundMe for the same purpose, but the website soon took it down. 

Geroni told the Daily Mail at the time that the fundraiser was shut down because it had been reported by ‘MAGA people.’ 

The newer online fundraiser, established on the website GiveSendGo, likewise claimed, ‘Our original GoFundMe campaign was removed and all donations were refunded after a coordinated mass-reporting campaign by a Facebook group targeted the fundraiser.’

However, GoFundMe policies clearly dictate that fundraisers on the platform are not allowed if they are raising money for someone accused of crimes. 

Tracey, who was dubbed the ‘Maple Leaf Menace’ in an X post by the Department of Homeland Security, confronted a group of teenagers on July 3 who were wearing ‘patriotic colored’ clothes, which were reportedly emblazoned with ‘Trump’ and ‘ICE’, before she slapped one of the teens.

In the footage of the assault, Tracey could be seen striking the teenager once on the shoulder before squaring up and delivering another blow across the girl’s face.

She was initially charged with endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault, harassment and obstruction. Her more serious charges were dropped by prosecutors in exchange for her guilty plea on Tuesday. 

In addition to the deportation, she was also sentenced to one day in jail, but she was granted time served for the days she spent behind bars in Ocean County after turning herself in.

Although Tracey was in the US illegally at the time of the assault, her lawyer, Francis Hodgson, attempted to paint her in a positive light during Tuesday’s hearing.

‘She met her husband and didn’t leave, but while she was [here], she maintained employment and was a productive member of society,’ Hodgson told the judge.

The lawyer simply described the attack as ‘unfortunate,’ and said his client has ‘taken responsibility for her role in it, and this is a reasonable judgment, Judge, that is consistent with other similar-type matters that happen every day during the summer on this boardwalk.’

Prosecutors said that the family of the victim, who was identified only by the initials MH due to her age, was okay with the plea deal.

Judge Guy P Ryan read an impact statement from the family and said: ‘The parents recite that, “Thank goodness for cameras and cell phones to have documented this incident.”‘

The victim and her family ‘look forward to justice being served, and they thank all the agencies involved,’ the judge added.

It is unclear exactly when Tracey will be deported back to Canada and how long she will be prohibited from returning to the US, though the judge said he expects it to be ‘a very long time.’

Tracey’s husband, Geroni, provided a different account of the attack on the teen when he spoke to the Daily Mail last month.

He claimed the group of teenagers ‘provoked’ Tracey and were causing mayhem on the Jersey Shore boardwalk, alleging that they ‘pushed and shoved’ her during the confrontation.

Geroni said the teenagers had been ‘provoking’ many people along the boardwalk, but singled out his wife because she was wearing ‘punk’ clothing that clashed with their MAGA attire. ‘They were wearing ICE merch,’ he said.

The husband said police at the scene let Tracey leave and described it as a ‘nothing-burger,’ but said investigators then reviewed a short surveillance clip of the confrontation that led to a warrant being issued for her arrest, which Geroni said was ‘out of context.’

Geroni said that Tracey was almost freed from the Ocean County jail before being hit with an immigration detainer at the last minute.

Tracey’s husband, who often shares social media posts attacking Republicans, including wishing for Mitch McConnell to die and for the Trump family to get cancer, said he believes Donald Trump is partially to blame for the hostility.

‘Trump is emboldening these people. They’re proud of their hate, not love,’ he said.

When asked how he squares this stance with his social media posts about McConnell, Geroni said it was ‘not the same’, and answered: ‘What are we even talking about here bro?’

Geroni said he and his wife love their lives in Ocean Beach, but he would move to Canada if needed. ‘I would do anything to be with my wife,’ he said.