Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday (16 September) that Russian forces launched over 640 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine in the first half of the month. This alarming statement followed a Russian attack overnight into Monday (16 September) that targeted nine Ukrainian oblasts and the capital, Kyiv, utilizing 53 Shahed-type drones. The continued use of Iranian-made drones by Russian forces has raised significant concerns throughout the ongoing conflict.
In a related development, the United States confirmed that Iran has supplied Russia with Fath-360 close-range ballistic missiles. This revelation has led to additional sanctions imposed on Iran by the US, UK, France, and Germany, aimed at countering the military cooperation between the two nations. The Iranian government has denied supplying these weapons and has criticized the sanctions as unjust.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the strategic partnership between Russia and Iran has deepened, with both countries enhancing their cooperation on military, economic, and diplomatic fronts to counter Western influence. The British Defense Ministry noted that the supply of ballistic missiles signifies a further intensification of the military relationship between Iran and Russia, underscoring the growing alliance amidst ongoing international tensions.
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