North Korea providing 50% of Russia’s ammunition, says Ukraine
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Russian soldiers at an artillery position in the Kursk region of Russia on Dec 2, 2024.
PHOTO: NANNA HEITMANN/NYTIMES
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KYIV – North Korea is providing 50 per cent of Russia’s ammunition needs at the front in its war against Ukraine, Kyiv’s military spy chief Kyrylo Budanov said on Feb 23.
North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to support Russian forces, according to Ukrainian, US and South Korean assessments, Pyongyang’s first major involvement in a war since the 1950s.
Mr Budanov told a press conference that North Korea had also begun large-scale supplies of 170mm self-propelled howitzers and 240mm multiple rocket launch systems to Russia.
North Korea has already supplied Russia with ballistic missiles as well, and in 2025 it plans to send 148, he added.
In 2025, Russia plans to produce more than seven million artillery and mortar shells, Ukrainian foreign intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko said.
“Russia... understands that in general, it produces way more than all European countries,” he said.
As for long-range missiles, Mr Ivashchenko said Russia is expected to produce around 3,000 in 2025. REUTERS
