Camilla Jessen
Ukrainian forces have eliminated a long-range North Korean artillery system — one of the rarest on the battlefield.
In a major battlefield development, Ukrainian troops have destroyed a rare North Korean-made M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery system in southern Ukraine, military officials announced on July 4 via Telegram.
The Koksan, a massive 170mm long-range artillery weapon, was first introduced by North Korea in the late 1980s and is known for its exceptional firing range.
With standard ammunition, it can hit targets up to 40 kilometers away, and up to 60 kilometers using rocket-assisted shells.
That gives it a longer reach than nearly any Russian artillery system currently in the war.
The Ukrainian Southern Defense Forces reported the strike on Telegram, calling it a key success in ongoing operations across the region.
Russian Losses Mounting
The destruction of the Koksan was just one part of a much broader Russian setback. In the past 24 hours,
Ukrainian forces also reported shooting down 18 Iranian-designed Shahed drones and eliminating a wide range of enemy assets, including:
- 34 Russian troops
- 7 howitzers
- 10 vehicles
- 1 boat
- 3 Supercam reconnaissance drones
- 1 “Kapjushon” (Hood) electronic warfare system
- 3 communications antennas
- 35 dugouts
- 2 field ammunition depots
