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A Ukrainian serviceman flies a drone to spot Russian positions near the city of Bakhmut, in the region of Donbas, on March 5, 2023. Photo: Aris Messinis/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ukraine’s air defense forces said on Monday it had shot down 13 Iranian-made kamikaze drones launched overnight from Russia towards Kyiv.
“According to preliminary information, 15 UAVs of this kind were launched, and 13 of them were destroyed by air defense forces,” Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Inhat said, as cited by Ukrainian state media.
Iran has been accused of supplying Russia with drones for use against Ukraine and has been hit by multiple rounds of sanctions from the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union. Tehran said the drones it sent to Russia preceded the war in Ukraine, which broke out last February.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in December said that Russia received 250 Shahed drones from Iran that have been used primarily to attack Ukraine's energy sector.
In an interview with CNN last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reiterated that they “have not provided Russia with any weapons to be used in the war in Ukraine.” He acknowledged that defense cooperation between Moscow and Tehran had existed but that it stopped short of sending weapons to be used in Ukraine.
Amir-Abdollahian added that discussions had taken place between the Iranian and Ukrainian foreign ministries, as well as meetings in Oman between teams from both countries of military experts. He stated that the Ukrainian team had shown “blurry pictures” of what they said were Iranian drones being used in Ukraine, denying that this was the case.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday said Kyiv has not been able to provide evidence of Iranian-made drones being used in Ukraine.
Ukraine has received large amounts of military support and air defenses from its Western allies, making it difficult for Russian warplanes to target the country. Explosive drones have become a cheaper and more efficient weapon for Russia.
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