The head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Intelligence Directorate, Brigadier General Kyrylo Budanov, has stated that cooperation between North Korea and Russia is strengthening, with approximately 40% of Russian ammunition on the battlefield coming from North Korea. In an interview with Bloomberg, Budanov noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's regime is supplying Russia with a vast amount of ammunition, as well as ballistic missiles and artillery systems. In return, Moscow provides North Korea with funding and technology, aiding Kim in overcoming international sanctions and isolation while bolstering its military and nuclear development.

Budanov pointed out that currently, up to 40% of Russian military ammunition on the battlefield is sourced from North Korea, and over the past three months, 60% of Ukraine's military losses have been attributed to North Korean manufactured artillery systems. While Bloomberg has found it challenging to verify the exact figures regarding Russian arms acquisition from North Korea, the recent frequency of high-level Russian officials visiting North Korea indicates a continued enhancement of cooperation between the two nations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in North Korea on the 11th for a three-day visit, marking the latest in a series of visits by Russian officials to Pyongyang; the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, visited North Korea in June, marking his third visit in three months.

Furthermore, Ukrainian intelligence has indicated that North Korea plans to send an additional 25,000 to 30,000 personnel to Russia to provide support.