North Korea's lifeline to Moscow: Artillery and arms support
The head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU), Oleh Ivashchenko, spoke with the Ukrinform agency about the support Moscow is receiving from Pyongyang. In his opinion, it is precisely this assistance that enables Putin's army to continue the war in Ukraine.
Moscow has been able to rely for months on deliveries of ammunition and heavy equipment, as well as several thousand troops from Kim Jong Un's army, who have been deployed for battles in the Kursk region.
Massive support for Russia
Ivashchenko stated that since the beginning of the full-scale war, over six million North Korean artillery shells have already been delivered to Russia. These include 122mm and 152mm calibre shells necessary for the operation of the most popular Russian artillery systems, including the 2S3 Akatsiya, 2S5 Giatsint, and 2S19 Msta.
Additionally, Ivashchenko highlighted that North Korea has been supplying Russia with heavy military equipment for months. This includes M1991 multiple rocket launchers with a 240mm calibre and Koksan self-propelled artillery systems with a 170mm calibre. Approximately 120 units of each of these weapons could have already reached the front lines. Initially, they were operated by North Korean soldiers, but in May, the first recordings appeared showing Koksan artillery systems operated by Russians.
They don’t support Russia selflessly
Ivashchenko was asked about the motivations of the North Korean authorities. In his opinion, the assistance provided to Russia comes at a price.
– They provide them with missile and space technologies. We do not rule out that these could also include technologies related to nuclear weapons or their improvement – commented the head of SZRU.
Is Russian equipment mostly Soviet-era scrap?
Russia may be striving to increase its supplies of military equipment. Ivashchenko stated that currently, "80% of their military equipment is old, with reduced capabilities. It has been taken from storage, repaired, and sent to the front".
These are reserves that have been pulled from storage, repaired, and sent to the front. According to SZRU information, only 20% of Russian equipment fighting in Ukraine represents newer generation systems. This is confirmed by observations from analysts involved in so-called open-source intelligence, who have noticed for months that the bases with Soviet-era equipment are systematically being depleted.
