In a moment that feels straight out of a war movie, a Ukrainian drone delivered a direct hit on a North Korean rocket launcher—with its crew still inside.
The strike, captured on dramatic footage and later shared by Ukraine’s military, shows the sheer precision and impact of modern drone warfare in one of the most politically tense regions in the world.
Strike Happens in Village Near Zaporizhzhia
The attack took place in Novopavlivka, a village roughly 35 miles from the frontline city of Zaporizhzhia.
Ukrainian forces used a drone to target and completely destroy a North Korean M1991 multiple rocket launcher, which fires 240mm rockets and has a firing range of up to 60 kilometers.
What makes this strike particularly shocking is that the launcher was actively crewed at the time.
The video shows the drone swooping in before unleashing its payload, which punches straight through the vehicle.
Two soldiers can be seen scrambling to escape, leaping out of a window just as the blast rocks the machine.
Ukraine Confirms North Korean Hardware on the Frontline
According to Ukraine’s Command of the Unmanned Systems Forces, this was a rare sighting and confirmed use of North Korean military equipment on the battlefield.
Operators from the 413th Battalion “Raid” spotted and eliminated the launcher, later confirming it was the first time they had witnessed this level of North Korean support in active combat.
They added that the incident happened back in April, but footage was only now being made public as part of an effort to expose growing international support for Russia’s war.
Why North Korean Weapons Are Appearing in Ukraine
North Korea has openly aligned itself with Russia since early 2024.
In fact, just two months ago, Pyongyang officially confirmed it had deployed troops and artillery to support Russia’s invasion efforts.
According to Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, North Korea has so far delivered:
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120 long-range artillery systems
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120 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS)
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Several ballistic missiles
The M1991 launcher that Ukraine destroyed is actually considered an upgrade over Russia’s own Uragan 220mm system—hence its value on the battlefield.
Kremlin and Pyongyang Strengthen Ties with New Bridge
But it’s not just military help that North Korea is offering.
Russia and North Korea have also started building a new road bridge to connect their countries more directly.
The Tumangang Road Bridge, which will span the Tumen River, is being billed as a one-kilometer-long symbol of political and economic unity.
The bridge, expected to be completed within 18 months, is designed to boost the movement of people, goods, and even tourists.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held simultaneously in both Tumangang (North Korea) and Khasan (Russia) to mark the occasion.
North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song called the project a “historic monument,” while Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said it created a “reliable basis” for deeper ties.
North Korean Soldiers Are Actively Fighting—and Dying—in Ukraine
North Korea’s support isn’t just about weapons or logistics—it’s boots on the ground too.
According to South Korean intelligence reports, an estimated 15,000 North Korean troops have been sent to help Russia, particularly in retaking parts of Kursk that Ukraine temporarily recaptured last year.
Of those deployed, about 4,700 soldiers have been killed or wounded, a staggering casualty figure for a country far removed from the conflict’s origins.
Despite the losses, North Korean state media has painted their involvement as heroic.
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un was quoted praising the troops as “heroes who fought for justice” and “the honour of the motherland.”
A War That’s No Longer Just About Ukraine and Russia
This latest drone strike, while just one moment in a long and brutal war, symbolizes a much larger shift.
Ukraine is no longer just fighting Russia—it’s facing off against a growing international alliance that now includes North Korean artillery, hardware, and soldiers.
The battlefield in Ukraine continues to expand beyond geography, dragging in authoritarian powers and reshaping alliances in real time.
And for many watching, moments like this remind us just how far-reaching this war has become.