Russia wants missiles from North Korea and Iran because they can exploit a gap in Ukraine's air defenses, analysts say

• The US said this week that Russia started using missiles it got from North Korea to attack Ukraine.
• The ISW experts noted that it's focus is on upping the quantity of  ballistic missiles it can get.
• These have proved more difficult for Ukraine to shoot down than cruise missiles, the ISW noted.

Russia is likely looking for missiles from North Korea and Iran because they are a type that Ukraine struggles to intercept, according to military experts.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War noted in an update on Thursday that Russia's efforts to get missiles from its allies focused on ballistic missiles.