Ukrainian Drone Attack Takes Out North Korean 170mm Howitzer in Kursk

Footage released by Ukrainian forces has confirmed a drone strike on a North Korean 170mm self-propelled howitzer, which have been deployed to the Russian Kursk region in significant numbers to help repel advances by Ukrainian Army units and supporting Western contractors. The attack appeared to target the engine compartment, and follows extensive use by both Russian and Ukraine of various drone systems to strike one another’s artillery assets throughout the conflict. The 170mm howitzers were first seen in the theatre in November 2024, following longstanding predictions that these very large calibre guns could be sent to the frontlines by North Korean units. They are thought to be manned by Korean People’s Army personnel, with their familiarity with such systems making personnel contributions to the Russian war effort highly prized. Reports in late January indicate that new artillery units fielding the very large systems have continued to arrive in Russia, with the howitzer’s estimated 65 kilometre firing range providing it with a significantly longer reach than the much smaller 152mm and 155mm guns Ukraine currently deploys.

North Korea has provided tremendous support for the Russian war effort, with Russia estimated near the end of 2024 to have already received over 6 million artillery rounds from its eastern neighbour, while the country’s weapons systems have often had important advantages over their Russian counterparts. A notable example is the Bulsae-4 anti tank missile system which was first seen in use in the theatre in August 2024, and introduced a very long 10 kilometre range and top attack capability previously not seen on Russian systems of its kind. This has allowed hit-and-run attacks to be launched against Ukraine’s own howitzers, although whether the systems are manned by Russian or Korean personnel remains uncertain. KN-23B ballistic missile systems have also played a major role in the conflict since they were first confirmed to be in use in January 2024, with the systems prized for their much larger warheads and longer ranges than the equivalent Russian system the Iskander-M. It has been widely speculated that the Russian Armed Forces could commission significant quantities of North Korean equipment for its own use after seeing its capabilities demonstrated by supporting Korean People’s Army units.