Reports indicate that a North Korean M1989 Koksan self-propelled howitzer has been observed on the front lines in Russia's conflict with Ukraine. This follows earlier reports from November regarding the transport of two such artillery pieces.

The Koksan howitzer boasts a range of up to 37 miles with rocket-assisted projectiles and can fire one to two rounds every five minutes. East 2 West news initially reported on the presence of the weapon, accompanied by a video seemingly showing it in a combat zone. Images also circulated on social media, although independent verification of the location remains pending.

The howitzer's appearance follows open-source intelligence from November indicating their transport through Siberia by rail. This occurred shortly after U.S. confirmation of North Korea's deployment of up to 12,000 troops to Russia, and several months after a defense pact between Pyongyang and Moscow, pledging mutual military support.

It's uncertain whether the video of the North Korean artillery piece originates from Russia's Kursk region, where North Korean soldiers have been deployed to counter Ukraine's offensive initiated in August. Both sides have reported substantial casualties in the region, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claiming around 3,800 North Korean troops killed or wounded, and the Ukrainian military reporting approximately 15,000 Russian soldiers killed and 23,000 injured in Kursk over the past five months. Moscow, conversely, alleges at least 49,000 Ukrainian casualties, without specifying the breakdown between deaths and injuries. Independent verification of these figures is yet to be achieved.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assesses that Ukrainian forces have made tactical gains amidst ongoing offensive operations in Kursk, potentially employing long-range strikes against Russian rear areas to support ground operations. While Russia has launched limited ground attacks towards Kharkiv in northern Ukraine, their progress has been minimal, largely due to successful Ukrainian counter-offensives since May.

Reports also suggest Russian advances in Donetsk, including the capture of Kurakhove, a strategic town in the Donbas region. This could indicate Russian forces nearing Ukrainian positions and potentially achieving a significant victory by gaining access to supply routes linking the area to Zaporizhzhia. However, Ukraine hasn't officially confirmed the fall of Kurakhove. No other strategic Russian advances have been assessed along other front lines at this time.