Russia Deploys Outdated Soviet D-74 Artillery in Ukraine, Possibly Supplied by North Korea

A video showing Russian forces using an outdated Soviet-era artillery system from the late 1940s, namely the D-74 122mm howitzer was released by the Russian Defense Ministry on October 8.

The video, filmed in Donetsk region, showcased Russian troops firing the artillery piece, which was developed in the 1940s but had largely fallen out of use by the Soviet military.

The D-74 was believed to have been completely phased out of Russian inventory in the 1980s, raising questions about where these guns are coming from.

Military experts state that the “museum exhibit” D-74 may have been imported from North Korea, a country known to still stockpile this model of artillery.

Retired US Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael Purcell pointed out that the supply of these weapons—or at least the ammunition—is likely part of a broader cooperation between Russia and North Korea as Moscow struggles with both material and manpower.

Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior military analyst at Defense Priorities, suggested that Russia’s public use of such outdated weapons could be a strategic move to show its ability to continue fighting despite Western sanctions.

Recent reports suggest North Korea's potential involvement in bolstering Russia's military efforts by supplying the Kremlin with arms, including artillery shells.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that North Korean troops might even be present in Ukraine, a statement supported by reports from South Korean authorities.

Earlier, it was reported that from January 1 to October 1, 2024, Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully destroyed 10,373 Russian artillery systems, equating to the destruction of 144 artillery brigades with estimated cost of $8 billion.