Russia has been forced to buy military hardware from North Korea as sanctions squeeze Moscow\u2019s ability to supply its military, US media have reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to declassified intelligence obtained by the New York Times, Russia has bought millions of artillery shells and rockets from Pyongyang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A US official said Russia would be forced to buy additional North Korean weaponry as the war dragged on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, Moscow reportedly received its first order of new Iranian drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran and North Korea, both the targets of significant Western sanctions, have sought to deepen ties with Russia since President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kim Jong-un\u2019s regime has blamed the US for the conflict and accused the West of pursuing a \u201chegemonic policy\u201d that justified Russia\u2019s use of force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last month, North Korea recognised the independence of Russia\u2019s two proxy statelets in eastern Ukraine \u2013 the Donetsk and Luhansk People\u2019s Republics \u2013 and vowed to deepen its \u201ccomradely friendship\u201d with Moscow. Russia\u2019s Vladimir Putin said the two countries would expand their \u201ccomprehensive and constructive bilateral relations\u201d, according to Pyongyang state media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The exact size and scale of the new weapons deliveries revealed by the report remain unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But a US official told the Associated Press that turning to North Korea for support demonstrated that \u201cthe Russian military continues to suffer from severe supply shortages in Ukraine, due in part to export controls and sanctions\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Broad economic sanctions have done little to damage Russia\u2019s income from energy exports, according to Finnish think tank the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. It estimates Russia has made \u20ac158bn (\u00a3136bn) from surging fossil fuel prices during the six-month invasion, with EU imports accounting for more than half of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, US and EU believes that Moscow\u2019s ability to resupply its military has been impaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, officials in the Biden administration told US media that the first shipments of Iranian made drones had also been delivered to Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
US intelligence officers believe that Russian operators have travelled to Iran to receive training on the Mohajer-6 and Shahed series weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But they told reporters recently that many of the drones had been beset by mechanical and technical problems since delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran has officially denied delivering weapons to either side of the conflict, but in July US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Tehran was planning to supply Moscow with potentially hundreds of drones for its war in Ukraine, some with combat capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Tuesday, UK defence officials said in a daily update that Russia was struggling to maintain its supply of battlefield drones in the face of significant \u201ccombat losses\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is likely that Russia is struggling to maintain stocks of UAVs, exacerbated by component shortages resulting from international sanctions,\u201d the update said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe limited availability of reconnaissance UAVs is likely degrading commanders\u2019 tactical situational awareness and increasingly hampering Russian operations,\u201d officials added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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