In recent months, Russian troops fighting in Ukraine have relied
on mostly North Korean artillery ammunition, Bloomberg reported on Oct. 25,
citing Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence.
According to the findings, only 30% of the artillery shells Russia used in recent attacks were domestically produced. North Korea supplied 60%, and another 10% came from Iran. Consequently, Russia uses twice as many North Korean shells as its own.
On Oct. 4, The Times, citing Western intelligence sources, reported that half of the approximately three million artillery shells used by Russia annually are supplied by North Korea.
On Sept. 15, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, stated that North Korean military aid is critical for Russia to sustain its war against Ukraine.