Russia has frequently utilized the Iranian-made Shahed drone in its attacks on Ukraine since February 2022.
Despite US president Donald Trump’s efforts to encourage a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine amidst their ongoing three-year-plus war, a curtailment in violence has yet to be achieved. This week, Moscow launched a massive barrage targeting Ukrainian cities in an overnight attack. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, more than 500 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and drones were launched as part of the strike. In response, NATO aircraft scrambled across the border in Poland following the hefty explosions caused by the barrage. The Polish Armed Forces Operational Command said in a post to X that aircraft were dispatched in response to Russian “strikes on facilities located on the territory of Ukraine.” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that civilian infrastructure located mainly in western and central Ukraine took the brunt of the attack.
Hours prior to the launch of the attack, Russian president Vladimir Putin stated publicly that “if common sense prevails, it is possible to agree on an acceptable option for ending the conflict.” Putin also added that Trump has “a sincere desire” to find a settlement. As the Russian leader was wrapping up a four-day visit to China, he also noted that “It seems to me that there is a certain light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s see how the situation develops. If not, then we will have to achieve our goal by military means.”
The Shahed Drone Series
While Moscow has utilized a range of lethal UAVs in its cross-border attacks since February 2022, the Iranian-made Shahed drone has perhaps been deployed the most. The Shahed-136 and -131 type UAVs are described as “suicide” or “kamikaze” aerial weapons, designed to explode on impact with targets. Western intelligence and the Ukrainian government have confirmed the sale, delivery, use, and even training of these killer UAVs by Russian forces throughout the more than three-year war. Back in 2023, images depicting the Iranian-made drones being used in Russian-launched attacks in Ukraine were widely documented. One year later, Russian media outlets published footage showcasing what was meant to be a Shahed drone factory in Yelabuga. In this video, Russian-made variants of the Iranian drone series can be identified. Obviously, the video was intended to serve as propaganda for the Kremlin, since the sheer number of UAVs depicted was massive.
The Shahed-136 UAV publicly debuted in Iran in 2021. Largely based on its Shahed-131 predecessor, the suicide drone is capable of remaining airborne and loitering around a target prior to striking. The UAV is powered by the Chinese-produced MD550 engine, enabling a top speed of 185 kilometers per hour. Since 2022, the Shahed-136 has proven to be a useful asset for Russian forces. Over the last few years, Moscow has used the Shahed series to attack Ukrainian military and civilian sites.
That Russia and Iran have a warming relationship should not be a surprise. Both nations have been largely isolated from the international community for their rogue activity, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Iran’s nuclear-related activity.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: Shutterstock.
