Ukrainian UAV destroyed 4 Russian Koksan super guns

Ukrainian UAVs have consecutively destroyed four 170mm Koksan long-range self-propelled guns of the Russian army on the battlefield.

Ukraine's Deep State channel on September 30 posted a video of a successful attack on a Russian long-range artillery position, this time targeting Koksan self-propelled artillery systems. According to Deep State, Ukrainian Unmanned Systems operators destroyed four M1989 170mm self-propelled artillery pieces, also known as Koksan guns, during operations in the Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

The attack was carried out by the 412th Nemesis Regiment of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces, which used reconnaissance and strike UAVs to pinpoint and destroy artillery positions. One Koksan was destroyed in a joint operation with infantry, demonstrating the effectiveness of joint combat operations.

The Koksan is a 170mm self-propelled artillery system developed by North Korea. It entered service in the 1970s and remains one of the longest-range conventional rifled artillery systems in the world , with a range of 40 km using standard ammunition and 60 km using extended-range ammunition.

Although outdated in design, especially in its fire control system, its long range and high destructive power still pose a significant threat, especially in an artillery-intensive conflict, such as the one currently taking place in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian army began using Koksan artillery on the Ukrainian battlefield from the end of 2024. According to intelligence information, Russia has been supplied with a large number of Koksan artillery from North Korea, to supplement artillery units on the battlefield.

Experts from Ukraine's Defense Express magazine estimate that North Korea has made at least four deliveries of Koksan artillery to Russia since late 2024. As of May 2025, up to 200 Koksan artillery pieces could be deployed along the front, especially in the north of the Crimean peninsula.

The fact that Russia, considered an artillery power, has to rely on foreign supplies of weapons shows the extent of the Russian military's shortage of weapons. Since the start of the "special military operation", Ukraine has destroyed thousands of Russian artillery pieces of various types, forcing Russia to seek replacements from other countries.

For Ukraine and its Western partners, the presence of the M1989 Koksan system on the battlefield is both a tactical challenge and a strategic concern, as it demonstrates that Russia’s partners are increasingly willing to provide military assistance that has a major impact on the war.

The Russian military has traditionally used the Soviet-era 2S7 Pion 203mm howitzer for long-range strikes, but battlefield attrition has reduced their numbers and effectiveness. According to the open intelligence website Oryx, the Russian military has lost 30 2S7 Pion howitzers. Other sources say the number is twice as high.

The RFAF's introduction of the Koksan gun into combat service may be aimed at filling that gap. Analysts note that North Korea's provision of such weapons to Russia marks a significant step forward in military cooperation between the two sides.

The M1989 Koksan is a 170mm self-propelled gun, using an improved Soviet T-54/T-55 tank chassis, able to withstand the weight and recoil of a 170mm gun. It has relatively good mobility, especially in rough terrain.

According to military experts, one of the characteristics of the M1989 Koksan is its relatively slow rate of fire, firing one to two rounds in five minutes due to the large size and complexity of the artillery shells. However, this weakness is compensated by its long range and great destructive power. Moreover, the M-1989 has a ammunition chamber of up to 12 rounds.

Another disadvantage of the M-1989 is that it does not have a shielded turret, making the crew vulnerable to attack. Most artillery systems in the world today have a shielded turret or integrated armor plates to protect the system and crew.

Finally, the Koksan's 170mm caliber poses logistical challenges for Russia. Since the weapon cannot use standard Russian shells, North Korea has to supply a large number of specialized shells for the Koksan. (photo source: KCNA, TASS, Ukrinform).

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