Russia deploys new North Korean Koksan self-propelled artillery systems through occupied Crimea
Russian occupants are transporting M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery systems from North Korea through the temporarily occupied Crimea. These guns have already been destroyed by the Ukrainian military on the frontline.
What we know
Photos of the artillery systems' movement were published by the Krymsky Veter telegram channel. A military echelon with 7-8 self-propelled guns was spotted at a railway station in northern Crimea.
Importantly, in addition to the self-propelled artillery systems, the platforms were carrying military cargo, including a truck with a crane. It has been identified as a Chinese Sinotruk Howo, which has previously been spotted in North Korea during military parades. There is speculation that it could be a transport and loading vehicle for the M1991 240mm MLRS.
A Koksan self-propelled artillery system on a train in occupied Crimea. Illustration: "Crimean Wind"
The M1989 Koksan is a 40-tonne self-propelled artillery system that uses the rare 170mm calibre. It has a range of 40km with conventional shells and up to 60km with rocket-propelled munitions.
Korean Koksan self-propelled artillery systems have long been used by the occupiers at the front, in particular in eastern Ukraine and the Kursk region. The Ukrainian military has repeatedly destroyed these systems with various types of weapons. For example, recently, drone operators of the 413th Reid Battalion hit such an artillery system in Donetsk Oblast using a bomber drone. This was the fifth enemy self-propelled artillery system destroyed recently.
Ukrainian artillerymen also struck three M1989 Koksan tanks with HIMARS. The first confirmed defeat of a North Korean self-propelled artillery system occurred on 18 December 2025 in the Luhansk region, when it was destroyed by a drone bomber strike.
Source: Telegram
