Collapse on the battlefield: HIMARS destroyed the "miracle weapon"? VIDEO

One of their drones spotted three 170mm self-propelled howitzers, which, according to members of a Ukrainian battalion, were considered "miracle weapons", hidden among trees somewhere in the Kursk region, in western Russia. It happened on or just before Tuesday.

The drone crew immediately transmitted the howitzer's coordinates to a nearby Ukrainian artillery unit equipped with the HIMARS missile system. These mobile multi-barrel rocket launchers, of which Ukraine has so far received about 40 pieces from the USA, fired at least one M30 rocket. The projectile exploded above the forest cover, scattering hundreds of hand grenade-sized cluster subprojectiles, which showered the M1989 howitzers and their crews.

It is difficult to say with certainty how much damage the attack caused. But this strike could mean that a significant number of M1989 howitzers, which North Korea sent to Russia to compensate for losses in artillery and heavy military equipment, were destroyed or severely damaged.

Pyongyang has already sent hundreds of pieces of military equipment to Moscow. In addition to the M1989 howitzers, which can fire a 45-kilogram projectile at a distance of up to 40 kilometers, there are vehicles with anti-tank missiles, multiple rocket launchers and air defense systems. Prior to this attack, Ukrainian drones and artillery had already managed to destroy at least one M1989 howitzer, several Bulsae-4 anti-tank rocket launchers, and a clumsy Russian drone operator mistakenly activated and destroyed one of North Korea's anti-aircraft systems.

A Pyrrhic victory for the Russians and North Koreans

Until last week, a significant Ukrainian force held 650 square kilometers of territory in the Kursk region. But then Russia's elite unmanned systems unit, known as the Rubicon Center for Advanced Drones, launched a devastating attack on the main supply lines supplying Ukrainian forces in the city of Suja, a key stronghold in the territory.

At the same time, a new group of North Korean soldiers arrived in Kursk - at least the second contingent sent by Pyongyang to Ukraine and western Russia since the end of 2024. Their attack put additional pressure on the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. Faced with heavy attacks and cut supply routes, the remaining Ukrainian soldiers retreated to Ukraine last week, leaving behind some valuable heavy equipment.

Although the Ukrainians withdrew, their drones and artillery continued to attack Russian and North Korean forces in Kursk.

The Battle of Kursk was a Pyrrhic victory for the Russians and North Koreans, Axe writes. To drive the Ukrainians out of the region, they suffered tens of thousands of casualties and lost hundreds of vehicles. Ukrainian forces fared better, but their losses were also not negligible.

However, while Russia is struggling to make up for losses in personnel and equipment, North Korea has almost inexhaustible military resources. Pyongyang can send hundreds more M1989 howitzers, and its support for Moscow in this war shows no sign of waning.

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