Russia has been forced to turn to North Korea for help topping up dwindling military supplies in a fresh blow to Vladimir Putin.

According to logistics data analysis by the Kyiv School of Economics Institute, goods flowing from Putin's main military storage facilities to the front-line are down to pre-invasion levels.

Shipments of military supplies from Russia's main storage fields peaked in 2022 with 242,000 tonnes delivered to the front lines, but it is set to drop down to 119,000 tonnes this year.

The data analysis revealed that the military relies on North Korea for the majority of its ammunition.

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Pavlo Shkurenko, an analyst at the KSE Institute, stated that the Russian military's reliance on North Korea is 'a staggering contrast' to the self-sufficient image that Putin's regime tries to portray

Austrian-based military analyst, Franz-Stefan Gady, said: "I suspect they are relying on North Korean ammunition to help keep persistent fire rates on the front line in Ukraine, while also allowing stockpiling higher quality Russian ammunition to prepare themselves for any future conflict involving Nato."

Last year, 52 per cent of shipments containing explosive materials to Russia originated in Nakhodka, an area located in the Sea of Japan commonly used by Kim Jong-Un's regime.

Before the start of the war in Ukraine, there were no shipments to Russia originating from this region.

An intelligence assessment carried out by South Korea suggested that Russia received 28,000 containers from North Korea.

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Pavlo Shkurenko, an analyst at the KSE Institute, stated that the Russian military's reliance on North Korea was "a staggering contrast" to the self-sufficient image that Putin's regime tries to portray.

Pyongyang has been further aiding Russia's war effort by sending ballistic missiles and troops on the ground.

The logistics data analysis suggested that Moscow was also becoming increasingly reliant on China.

Shipments into Russia's eastern border regions that made its way to military and defence production sites has exploded to more than 3 million tonnes since 2021.

KSE Institute analyst, Lucas Risinger, said: "Even if they claim they're not sending lethal aid, China is supplying Russia with the machinery and components it needs to keep the war machine running."

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The KSE analysis also identified roughly 13,000 tones of explosive material shipments originating from close to the Caspian Sea, likely sent by Iran.

Alongside ammunition, the Russian military has seen a decline in deliveries of armoured vehicles to the front lines.

However, Gady warned against interpreting the decline as proof that Russia was "losing combat effectiveness."

Since the start of the war, Russia has sought to improve the quality of its equipment being used on the front line.

"The Russian armed forces are also spending heavily to build up new stocks," Gady said.

However, armoured vehicles from the Soviet-era have been used in combat in Ukraine, including T-54 tanks which were produced in the late 1940s under Stalin's rule.