The Arsenal of Autocracy: Report Shows How North Korea Provides the RF Military Advantage in Ukraine.

The United States has recently detected suspicious activity from North Korea, which is supplying a large quantity of ammunition to Russia. According to new research from the British Open Source Centre, since August 2023, North Korea has sent at least 15,809 containers of ammunition, amounting to between 4.2 and 5.8 million artillery shells and rockets.

Researchers analyzed satellite images and created three-dimensional models of ships and containers, which showed that Russia receives about 750 containers of ammunition each month, equivalent to 200-270 thousand units of weaponry. Calling this a sharp strategic problem, researchers stated that these supplies help sustain offensive operations and hinder western efforts to provide adequate armaments to Ukraine.

A significant portion of this ammunition consists of artillery shells of various calibers and rockets, which are transported to Russian ammunition depots near the Ukrainian border. By comparison, Ukraine has received only 500,000 artillery shells from Great Britain and about 450,000 from Germany since February 2022. This demonstrates a significant disparity in ammunition supplies between North Korea and Ukraine's western allies.

The problematic situation qualitatively changes the state of affairs and threatens Ukraine's ability to prevail in the conflict with North Korea. The increase in ammunition production by North Korea exacerbates the situation and risks leading to destabilization.