North Korean arms bolster Russian forces in Ukrainian conflict
From an investigation by Reuters and the Open Source Centre (OSC), it emerges that North Korea has already supplied Russia with about 5.8 million pieces of ammunition. In terms of artillery shells, Putin's forces fighting in Ukraine are now almost completely dependent on shipments from Pyongyang.
OSC is a British independent research organization that primarily deals with security issues. The investigation was extensive. Over 20 months (between September 2023 and March 2025), 64 shipments containing nearly 16 thousand containers were tracked as sent from North Korea to Russia.
The enormous scale of aid for Russia
In its published report, Reuters details the exact route of the weapon transfers. Four container ships sailing under the Russian flag (Angara, Maria, Maia-1, and Lady R) were responsible for transporting weapons from North Korea to ports in the Russian Far East. The cargo was then taken by rail to various ammunition depots located near Ukraine.
Russia dependent on supplies from North Korea
Support from North Korea for Russia mainly includes mortar shells and artillery shells - 122 mm and 152 mm calibres. This is crucial weaponry for Putin's army. Artillery, often called the "god of war," plays a key role in the war in Ukraine (along with drones). The 122 mm and 152 mm calibre artillery shells are essential for operating Russia's most widely used systems of this type, including the 2S3 Akatsiya, 2S5 Giatsint, and 2S19 Msta.
Reuters also analyzed nine Russian military documents containing data on the use and stocks of ammunition within artillery units. These documents clearly show that Russian forces in Ukraine are now predominantly dependent on supplies from Pyongyang. In some instances, North Korean artillery shells make up 70 percent or more (on certain days even 100 percent) of the total used stocks.
Konrad Muzyka from the analytical company Rochan Consulting believes that from the end of 2023, Russia maintained the intensity of their attacks thanks to assistance from North Korea.
"It allowed the Russians to maintain an offensive posture and constant pressure on Ukrainian forces throughout most of 2024 into 2025," said Muzyka, as cited by Reuters.
Aside from mortar shells and artillery shells, North Korea also sent Russia, albeit in smaller quantities, ballistic missiles (KN-23), as well as multiple launch rocket systems and about 120 Koksan M-1989 and Koksan M-1978 guns. Initially, these were used exclusively in the Kursk region in Russia, but in recent weeks, the Russians have also deployed them in occupied territories belonging to Ukraine.
