North Korea supplies 40% of Russia’s ammunition for Ukraine war, official says

North Korea is now providing up to 40 per cent of Russia’s ammunition used in the war against Ukraine, according to Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov.

In an interview with Bloomberg News, Budanov said Pyongyang is supplying not only ammunition but also ballistic missiles and artillery systems, Caliber.Az reports. 

“Those are good weapons,” he noted, adding that North Korean-made artillery was responsible for 60% of losses in Ukrainian military-intelligence units over the past three months. “North Korea has huge stockpiles and production goes on around the clock.”

In return, Russia is supplying North Korea with money and technology, helping the isolated regime deepen its international ties. Budanov said the growing cooperation was accelerating since President Vladimir Putin signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with Kim Jong Un in June last year.

As part of that partnership, North Korea has sent thousands of troops to assist Russian operations in the Kursk region, and western intelligence estimates that millions of artillery rounds have already been delivered.

High-level contacts between the two countries have increased, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov set to begin a three-day visit to Pyongyang on Friday, and Security Council aide Sergei Shoigu visiting North Korea three times since April.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the resumption of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, including air-defense systems, following a brief halt.

“He accused Putin of ‘killing too many people’ and said the Russian leader’s engagement with US calls for a truce was ‘meaningless.’”

Budanov said he believes American support will continue and could expand. “Trump’s position is consistent, one should not judge him by media characteristics,” he said. “As head of a special service I know more things.”

A potential ceasefire is now under discussion. According to Budanov, Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. must all be involved. “Is it realistic to do so – yes. Is it difficult – no,” he said. “And we will get to this position.”

Despite the diplomacy, Russia has increased attacks. On July 9, it launched 728 drones across Ukraine, hitting homes and infrastructure. UN officials reported June saw the highest civilian casualties in three years, with 232 deaths and over 1,300 injuries. “Civilians across Ukraine are facing levels of suffering we have not seen in over three years,” said UN mission chief Danielle Bell.

On the battlefield, Russia has advanced slightly in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, and entered the Sumy region last month in an effort to create a buffer zone. Moscow is also attempting to reach the Dnipropetrovsk region.

“It’s not realistic for Russia to seize all of the Donetsk region by the end of the year,” Budanov said, but noted that Russian troops aim to claim an entry into Dnipropetrovsk and carve out another 10-kilometer buffer.

He praised intelligence cooperation with the West as “excellent” and ongoing. “I don’t see any signs our cooperation in the security services will stop,” Budanov said. “This is not beneficial for us and not beneficial for our partners either, because they get information from us.”

By Sabina Mammadli