The Washington Post reported this morning (Sunday) that Iran is expected to transfer to Russia surface-to-surface missiles of its own production, intended for use against cities and the military in Ukraine. According to the report, an intelligence assessment that was played in recent days to Ukrainian and American officials claims that Iran’s arms industry is preparing the first shipment of Fatah-110 and Zolfgar missiles. These are well-known short-range Iranian ballistic missiles capable of hitting targets at distances of 300 and 700 kilometers, respectively.
The officials briefed on the planned missile shipment said Iran is also preparing new shipments of unmanned aerial vehicles to Russia, including “dozens” of additional Mujahar-6 aircraft and a larger number of Shahad-136 aircraft. The latter, sometimes called “kamikaze” drones because they are designed to crash into their targets, are capable of delivering explosive charges up to 1,500 miles away. Iranian technical advisers have visited Russian-controlled areas in recent weeks to provide guidance on operating the drones, the officials who spoke to the newspaper said.
On Friday, the Ukrainian government said that Iranian instructors are in the occupied territories of Kherson province and the Crimean peninsula to help the Russians launch attacks with Iranian-made Shahed-136 UAVs. In Ukraine, they claim that the Russians are placing their military equipment and personnel on the territory of schools and hospitals, using in children and patients as a human shield.
Following the increase in attacks carried out by Russia using Iranian drones, senior Ukrainian officials criticized the lack of assistance from Israel. The Ukrainian ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Kornichuk, told the evening news in Khan 11 last night that Iran is testing its attack drones in Ukraine, and claimed: “They They will improve them, and in the end it will be directed against Israel.” Kornichuk added that the monetary aid from Israel is not enough, and said: “If Israel does not give offensive weapons, let them give defensive weapons that can protect women and children. This is something that needs to be done.”