Ukraine War: Russia's Drone Shipments to Iran

0:00On March 23, a top Ukrainian diplomat says Russia's shipments of upgraded drones to Iran have turned Moscow's production sites into legitimate military targets. Andrew Melnik, Ukraine's representative at the United Nations, made the comments during a security council session on the Ukraine war. He called Russia Tehran's main partner in the conflict, noting Moscow's use of these Iranian-designed Shahid drones against Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. These drone transfers mark a big step up, according to Melnik. He warned they could let Iran strike Gulf nations and United States forces for years, shaking up the region and hurting the global economy. Russia got licenses from Tehran to modernize the drones, deepening their military ties. Ukraine has already targeted some Russian drone factories to protect its people and infrastructure. But Melnik urged Western countries to supply long-range weapons for deeper strikes and boost Ukraine's own missile production.

1:01He argued this would help peace efforts in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Ukraine sent hundreds of experts to the Gulf to aid defenses against the drones. Melnik also accused Russia of sending attack helicopters to Iran, breaking United Nations arms limits. The ongoing Iran conflict is boosting Moscow's economy to higher oil prices. As these connections grow, the push for stronger support to Ukraine aims to counter threats on multiple fronts and stabilize key regions worldwide. You've been listening to Global News today, AI-powered Global Coverage.