**Ukraine’s Drones Take Aim at North Korea’s Rocket Launchers**
In a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Moscow has been forced to rely on its new ally, North Korea, for additional mobile rocket launchers. These vehicles are crucial for blasting gaps in Ukrainian defenses, but their arrival along the 700-mile front line of the wider war is also an opportunity for Ukraine’s military.
**A Deadly Threat Turned into a Hunting Opportunity**
Ukraine has been using drones and artillery to devastating effect against Russia’s vast force of mobile rocket launchers. The reported destruction of a North Korean-made KN-09 launcher in Russia’s Kursk Oblast last week is just one example of this strategy in action. According to reports, the strike was carried out by a US-made HIMARS system after a reconnaissance drone operated by Ukraine’s 4th Ranger Regiment located and adjusted for fire.
However, not everyone agrees that the target was indeed a KN-09 launcher. Open-source intelligence analyst Jakub Janovsky has disputed this claim, suggesting instead that the vehicle hit was actually a rare Russian BM-27.
**Russia’s Rocket Arsenal in Decline**
The Russian armed forces had once boasted one of the biggest tactical rocket arsenals in the world, with over 1,000 wheeled launchers in their inventories. However, in 39 months of hard fighting, Ukraine’s drones and artillery have taken a heavy toll on these vehicles, with nearly 500 lost to date.
While Russia has pulled hundreds of old rocket vehicles out of storage, it is unlikely that they have been able to generate enough replacement launchers to cover battlefield losses and equip new units. This is where North Korea comes in – the two countries have already been working together to supply Russian forces with ammunition, and now Pyongyang’s rocket launchers are being used on the battlefield.
**The Impact of Ukraine’s Drones**
Ukraine’s use of drones to target Russia’s mobile rocket launchers has become a crucial tactic in the war. By blowing up these vehicles before they can fire their missiles, Ukraine’s military is effectively neutralizing one of Russia’s most powerful weapons. As the conflict continues to escalate, this strategy will likely remain a key part of Ukraine’s military playbook.
As the situation on the ground continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how effective North Korea’s rocket launchers will ultimately prove to be in bolstering Russian forces. One thing is certain, however – Ukraine’s drones are ready and waiting to take them down.
