According to the White House, the equipment was sent across the Caspian Sea and later used by Russian forces against Ukraine.
The United States announced on Friday (June 9, 2023) that Russia had received hundreds of attack drones from Iran for the war against Ukraine. According to the White House, the UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) were built in Iran, sent across the Caspian Sea and then deployed by Russian forces over Ukraine. The information comes from Portal.
“Russia has used Iranian UAVs to attack Kiev and terrorize the Ukrainian population in recent weeks, and the military partnership between Russia and Iran appears to be deepening.” to produce Iranian UAVs inside Russia,” White House spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.
According to Kirby, the US had information that Russia received materials from Iran needed to build a drone factory that could be fully operational as early as 2024.
“We are releasing satellite imagery of the proposed location of this UAV factory in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, Russia,” Kirby said.
Iran admitted in November 2022 that it had delivered a “small number” of drones to Russia, but said the equipment had been delivered “months before” the invasion of Ukraine and is no longer being delivered.
Kirby said the drone deliveries violate a 2015 UN resolution enshrining the Iran nuclear deal and that the US would seek to hold both Iran and Russia accountable.
Ukraine, the US, France and Germany say the resolution places restrictions on Iran’s missiles and related technologies until October 2023 and could cover the export and purchase of advanced military systems like drones.