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Single Ukrainian Strike May Have Neutralized Three North Korean M1989 Koksan Howitzers in Russia.
A video released on March 18, 2025, by Ukraine’s 14th Independent Drone Regiment shows three North Korean-made M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery pieces being struck in Russia’s Kursk region. The attack put these systems, recently delivered to Moscow by Pyongyang, out of operation. The strike was carried out using precision munitions, although the exact type remains unconfirmed. Some reports suggest the use of HIMARS systems armed with M30 cluster rockets, while others indicate conventional rocket artillery directed by reconnaissance drones. While available footage confirms that the Koksans were heavily damaged, a full assessment of their destruction or the extent of the damage is still pending.
Screenshot from the video published by Ukraine’s 14th Independent Drone Regiment showing three North Korean-made M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery pieces in a forested area in Kursk, Russia (Picture source: Ukrainian MoD)
The artillery pieces were concealed in a forested area and fitted with makeshift protective grills to mitigate the impact of FPV kamikaze drones. Despite these countermeasures, Ukrainian operators identified their positions and directed strikes using fragmentation and cluster munitions to maximize the strike’s impact. This marks the second confirmed instance of a Koksan being neutralized since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, following the destruction of another unit in February 2025 in Luhansk by the 412th Independent Drone Regiment Nemesis.
The M1989 Koksan is a North Korean self-propelled artillery system equipped with a 170mm gun designed for long-range strikes. A successor to the M1978, it has a range of up to 40 kilometers with conventional explosive shells and up to 60 kilometers with rocket-assisted projectiles, making it one of the longest-range tube artillery systems of its kind. It features a screw-type breech mechanism and an assisted loading tray, enabling a firing rate of approximately two rounds per minute, though its internal storage of 12 rounds limits sustained fire without resupply.
Mounted on a modified Soviet ATS-59 artillery tractor chassis, the M1989 Koksan offers improved mobility compared to its predecessor but remains heavy at 40 tons. It can reach a top road speed of 50 km/h and is equipped with a tracked suspension system that allows it to operate on uneven terrain, though its maneuverability remains limited compared to lighter artillery systems. Lacking significant armor, it relies on its long firing range to avoid direct engagements. Some variants are fitted with man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) for minimal protection against aerial threats. Originally designed to target Seoul from across the Demilitarized Zone, it is now used by Russian forces in Ukraine to offset losses in heavy artillery.
According to Forbes, the strike may have involved a Ukrainian reconnaissance drone that detected the concealed Koksan M1989s in the forest. The Ukrainian unit is then believed to have coordinated an attack using a HIMARS system, launching an M30 cluster rocket. The warhead reportedly dispersed hundreds of submunitions over the targets, causing significant damage to the artillery pieces and their crews.
The scale of the losses remains unclear, but the strike is part of a broader series of Ukrainian attacks targeting North Korean-supplied equipment used by Russian forces. For months, Pyongyang has provided Moscow with military support, including M1989 Koksans, Bulsae-4 anti-tank missile systems, multiple rocket launchers, and air defense systems. Prior to this strike, Ukrainian forces had already neutralized another M1989 Koksan as well as a North Korean air defense system, which was reportedly destroyed by mistake by a Russian drone operator.
Clashes in the Kursk region have intensified in recent weeks. Until recently, Ukrainian forces controlled a 250-square-mile salient in the area, before being pushed back by a combination of Russian drone strikes and a ground offensive involving North Korean troops. Russia’s "Rubicon Center for Advanced Unmanned Systems," an elite drone warfare unit, reportedly played a key role in the counteroffensive by targeting Ukrainian supply lines with precision drone strikes. Under this pressure, Ukrainian forces withdrew, leaving behind some heavy equipment.
Despite this withdrawal, Ukrainian forces continue to target Russian and North Korean positions in the area. The destruction of the Koksan artillery systems highlights Ukraine’s continued focus on strategic military assets. However, North Korea reportedly still holds significant stockpiles, including several hundred additional M1989 Koksan systems, suggesting that Pyongyang’s military support for Moscow could continue.
Against this backdrop, Western military aid remains a crucial factor in Ukraine’s strategy. The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump recently temporarily suspended part of its military assistance and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, jeopardizing the supply of M30 rockets for HIMARS systems. This decision is part of a broader political effort to encourage ceasefire negotiations favorable to Moscow, which could lead to the de facto recognition of Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine.