Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said that Russia is supplying drones to Iran, to use it against the United States and Israel. In an interview, Zelenskyy claimed that it is a 100 per cent fact" that Iran used Russian drones "Shahed" to attack American military bases.
Last week, the Ukrainian President made similar claims in some posts on social media. Sharing a post on X, he said that Russia is supporting Iran by supplying drones. "It will definitely help with missiles and air defense as well." However, Zelenskyy did not provide any significant details about the assistance.
Russia also shared imagery from its satellite network with Iran. Although reports have still not been found on what Moscow is receiving in return for the support. In the past, Russia had consistently denied its links with Iran, CNN reported.
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Why Are Shahed-136 Drones Preferred Over Ordinary Ones?
The Shahed-136 drone is a loitering drone originally manufactured by Iran. The most significant feature of the munition is its cheaper price.
The drone is engineered with a delta-wing structure. It has the ability to travel longer distances and hover around the target before hitting it and detonating its explosive payload.
Experts at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies claimed that the drone has a range of around 1000 miles and can reach speeds of about 114 miles per hour. It carries a warhead weighing between 66 and 123 pounds.
Each unit has an estimated cost of around 20,000 to 30,000 dollars. The missile is way cheaper than the traditional ones but has the ability to cause significant damage. As the missile is of low cost, one can launch them in higher numbers at one go. The opposing team would be forced to use expensive ones.
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When Was The Drone First Used?
The Shahed-136 was first used by Russia during the invasion of Ukraine. Since 2022, thousands of these have been launched by Moscow, the Ukrainian officials reported.
Initially, Iran supplied its drones to Russia. However, the Putin-led government soon started producing it domestically. The US had also been manufacturing Shahed-like drones lately.
Tehran has positioned numerous drones across the Middle East, targeting specific sites in countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
Most of Iran's drones have been intercepted. However, some of them stuck to airports, hotels, ports, and residential buildings.