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North Korea Shipped 6M Shells to Russia in Just 64 Trips, Fueling Russia’s War in Ukraine

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Ivan_khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
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North Korea Shipped 6M Shells to Russia in Just 64 Trips, Fueling Russia’s War in Ukraine
122mm artillery shells reportedly of Iranian, North Korean, and Russian origin stored together. (Source: open source image)

Russia has received up to 6 million artillery shells from North Korea over the past 18 months, delivered in just 64 maritime shipments.

According to Defense Express on May 8, citing data from OSINT researchers and the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), these shipments significantly contributed to Russia’s ability to maintain high rates of fire on the front line.

The deliveries reportedly began in September 2023 and included 152mm and 122mm artillery rounds, as well as 122mm rockets.

Between September 2023 and April 2025, North Korean ammunition accounted for an estimated 29 to 40 percent of Russia’s total artillery inventory, enabling an average increase of 7,400 artillery rounds fired per day.

RUSI notes that the impact was especially evident during Russia’s offensive operations near Avdiivka in late 2023. During this period, maritime deliveries peaked at 18 shipments over three months, coinciding with a surge in artillery use.

By November–December 2024, Russian forces were firing up to 40,000 shells per day—nearly triple the estimated rate without North Korean support.

Researchers estimate that roughly 15,800 standard shipping containers were used in the operation. While the exact breakdown of shell types remains unknown, this volume suggests a total supply ranging between 4.2 and 5.8 million munitions.

Analysts also highlight the logistical efficiency demonstrated by both regimes. Prior to 2022, transport between North Korea and Russia was minimal.

The scale and coordination of this arms transfer, however, reflect a high level of strategic synchronization between the two countries, as noted by Defense Express.

Earlier, a report by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), cited by Newsweek on April 16, estimated that North Korea earned over $20 billion through arms shipments, troop deployments, and technical cooperation with Russia—primarily by supplying munitions and receiving military technologies in return.

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