Today at 15:58
Half of the approximately three million artillery shells used by Russia each year come from North Korea.
This was reported by The Times, citing Western intelligence data.
According to a source from The Times who quoted intelligence reports, Russia has become dependent on supplies from North Korea following Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang earlier this year.
Western intelligence estimates that many North Korean shells may be faulty, but their quantity has allowed Russia to achieve consistent success on the battlefield.
Despite this, the source added that Russia is currently suffering high losses in Ukraine—1,200 military personnel per day, with 480 of them in the battles for the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.
Additionally, the official stated that Russia is currently unable to simultaneously capture Pokrovsk and push Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region without mass mobilization, but the Russian authorities are not currently taking that step.
“We see no signs that Putin is retreating from his main goal of subjugating Ukraine’s sovereignty. I see no prospect for negotiations in the near future,” the source added.
According to estimates from South Korea as of summer 2024, Russia may have received five million artillery shells from North Korea.
Recent evidence has also emerged of new shipments of North Korean ballistic missiles to Moscow.
