Cluster munitions—long banned by over 100 countries for their indiscriminate lethality—are now being repurposed in a chilling new way on the battlefield in Ukraine. According to a new investigative report, Russian forces are arming small, first-person-view (FPV) drones with cluster bomblets supplied by North Korea, marking a dangerous escalation in the Kremlin’s war effort.
What Are Cluster Munitions?
Cluster munitions are explosive devices that release dozens—or even hundreds—of smaller submunitions, known as bomblets, over a wide area. Many of these bomblets fail to detonate on impact, becoming de facto landmines that endanger civilians long after conflicts end. Over 120 nations have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but Russia, North Korea, and Ukraine are not among them.
North Korean Cluster Bomblets Found on Russian Drones
Last week, investigators from Conflict Armament Research (CAR)—a UK-based independent weapons tracking group—documented a previously unknown type of North Korean cluster munition attached to a Russian FPV drone near Kherson, southern Ukraine. The device was recovered on September 23, 2025.
The bomblet had been heavily modified to fit the drone’s compact frame. FPV drones, which transmit live video to an operator, allow for precise targeting of trenches, vehicles, or personnel—making them ideal for urban or frontline strikes.
Deepening Russia–North Korea Military Ties
While North Korea has reportedly withdrawn most of its troops from the front lines in Ukraine, its military support for Russia is intensifying. Pyongyang has already sent artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and an estimated 10,000+ soldiers to aid Moscow’s war effort.
This latest discovery confirms that the alliance is evolving beyond manpower and bulk munitions—into specialized, hybrid weaponry that blends North Korean ordnance with Russian drone technology.
Why This Matters
The use of cluster munitions on drones represents a tactical innovation with serious humanitarian implications:
- Precision + Area Effect: FPV drones offer surgical accuracy, while cluster bomblets create blast radii that can injure multiple targets—even behind cover.
- Civilian Risk: Unexploded bomblets pose long-term dangers to civilians, especially children who may mistake them for toys.
- Escalation Signal: This collaboration signals deeper integration between two pariah states, potentially setting precedents for future proxy conflicts.
International Response So Far
As of October 17, 2025, neither the U.S. State Department nor NATO has issued a formal statement on this specific finding. However, Western officials have repeatedly condemned the Russia–North Korea arms pipeline, with the White House calling it a “direct threat to global security” earlier this year.
Ukraine has welcomed independent weapons researchers like CAR since the war began, recognizing the value of transparent documentation in building international legal and diplomatic cases.
Looking Ahead
If this trend continues, we may see more hybrid weapons systems emerge—blending Soviet-era designs, North Korean mass production, and modern drone warfare. For Ukrainian defenders and civilians alike, the threat is no longer just from artillery or missiles, but from skyborne cluster bombs delivered with chilling precision.
