North Korean tactics revealed: Drone warfare in Ukrainian skies
The Russians engaged soldiers from North Korea in the Kursk region, where they first encountered drones. The method of combating drones used by North Korean soldiers was discovered by Ukrainian special forces in a captured notebook. We explain the importance of drones in the Ukraine war.
Ukrainian soldiers found notes belonging to Private Jong from a special unit named in honor of Kim Jong Un. Alongside expressions of admiration and loyalty to the North Korean leader, the notes also suggested that fighting in Russia serves to defend the North Korean homeland.
According to the Unian agency and Ukrainian Special Operations Command, the notes also describe how to combat drones. This strategy requires three soldiers: one acts as a live decoy, while the other two are positioned about 23 feet away to target the drones. Jong writes that when the decoy stops, the drone also stops, giving the other two soldiers the best chance to shoot it down. It is presumed that these instructions were provided to the Koreans by the Russians, as many of Kim’s soldiers had not previously encountered such technology.
The description likely refers to bomb-dropping drones of the "Baba Yaga" type, which indeed need to hover over a target for a moment to drop mortar shells, for example. However, this tactic is ineffective against FPV drones, small "kamikaze" drones that operate differently.
Drones — A nightmare North Korean soldiers weren’t ready for
Ukrainian drone footage shows that Korean forces attack in lines, often across open terrain, leading to significant losses. Both Ukrainians and Russians use various types of drones and artillery in these encounters.
The "Baba Yaga" drones mentioned are commercial agricultural or industrial unmanned aerial vehicles. They can reach altitudes up to about 10,000 feet and carry loads of 44-66 pounds. These drones are used not only for bombing with mortar shells (sometimes even laser-guided) but also for other tasks. They conduct reconnaissance, serve as signal boosters for other drones, act as airborne Starlink terminals, lay mines, and transport robo-dogs.
Disposable drones in Ukraine
On the other hand, FPV drones are disposable constructions consisting of a frame, a control system with an antenna, electric motors with rotors, a camera, and a battery. Explosive materials can be attached to these devices, even with zip ties, creating simple guided weapons.
This method is ideal for utilizing outdated weapons such as grenade launchers, although electronic warfare systems can limit its effectiveness. Ukrainians and Russians continually enhance their tactics, such as controlling the drone with a deployable fiber optic cable or employing artificial intelligence algorithms.
Both methods allow operation under conditions of strong interference. At the unit level, it's common to see smoothbore shotguns or experiments with anti-drone ammunition for rifles.
