Russia Is Using Low-Cost Iranian Kamikaze Drones In Ukraine – Here Is All You Need To Know About The Shahed-136

Kamikaze drones are playing a very big and controversial role in the war in Ukraine, and the ones used by Russia are Shahed-136 drones made by Iran.

The uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) were first seen in Ukraine two months ago. They were used against a U.S-supplied M777 howitzer that was being used by the Ukrainian military. This means that Russia is short of precision-guided missiles that can target the howitzers deployed by Ukraine.

Oleksii Reznikov, the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, estimated on Oct. 14 that Russia only has 124 out of 900 medium-range Iskanders left, just over half its Kalibr missiles, and less than half its air-launched cruise missiles. Reznikov wrote: “By using hundreds of high-precision missiles against civilian objects of Ukraine, the aggressor state reduces its ability to strike the military targets.”

At least eight people have died due to kamikaze drones across Ukraine. The victims also included a young couple in Kyiv who were expecting their first child. The recent drone attacks targeted the headquarters of Ukraine’s national energy utility in the capital and damaged homes. 18 people had to be rescued.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense said, “There is a realistic possibility that Russia has achieved some success by attacking with several UAVs at the same time.”

Iran is seemingly inclining towards China and Russia with cordial relations. Vladamir Putin went to meet Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran in June, and they met once again in September at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for a new trade and security treaty.

The U.S State Department has stated that Iran’s supply of drones to Russia violates U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231.

On Wednesday, officials and diplomats told the Associated Press that the European Union was finalizing a list of sanctions to swiftly impose on Iran for supplying the drones.

Israel has taken a neutral stance in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since last February. It has provided Ukraine with humanitarian assistance but no requests for military equipment and or austere economic sanctions on Russia. Israel might speak up now as Iran is its adversary.