First Rocket Attack on Kiev Since August Reported

kiev - The war in Ukraine takes a remarkable turn as North Korean troops are reportedly active in the occupied Russian border region of Kursk. What does this mean for the course of the conflict? Follow the latest developments in the Ukraine war here.

Russia has fired rockets at Kiev for the first time in months, according to Ukrainian officials. The air defense system reportedly shot down multiple rockets, with debris falling in the vicinity. There have been no reports of injuries.

Ukraine has long feared that the absence of rocket attacks signifies a calm before the storm and that Russia is preparing for a major rocket assault. In recent weeks, the number of drone attacks has increased, potentially to better assess and deplete the Ukrainian air defense.

Kiev has also been heavily targeted by drones in recent weeks. This has led to the air raid alarm going off almost every night, forcing residents to seek shelter in bunkers and underground metro stations. Residents of the Ukrainian capital complain to Reuters that the frequent attacks are disrupting their sleep.

The deployment of North Korean troops against Ukraine will receive a "firm response," said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken after a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte on Wednesday.

North Korea has sent around 10,000 troops to Russia, where they are already engaged in combat against Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk. "This requires a firm response, and it will receive one," Blinken declared.

He pledged that the U.S. government under President Joe Biden will continue to support Ukraine until his last day in office. Donald Trump will succeed Biden as the new President of the United States on January 20. Trump has been highly critical of aid to Kiev.