Russia is supplying Iran with drones, Zelenskiy says

A file photo of a Shahed drone
Iranian forces are using Russian-made Shahed drones to attack US bases, Ukraine's president says. -AP

Russia is supplying Iran with Shahed drones to use ‌against the US and Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr ‌Zelenskiy has told CNN.

Zelenskiy told the network in an interview it's "100 per cent facts" that Iran has used Russian-made Shaheds to attack US bases.

Shahed ‌drones have ‌been ⁠linked to other attacks ​on nations in the region, although their manufacturers are not always clear.

Iran pioneered the Shahed drone, a much cheaper alternative to expensive missiles. ⁠

Their first mass ​use was in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where ​thousands of ‌them have been launched by Russian forces ​since 2022, according to the Ukrainians.

Although Iran initially provided the ​drones, ​Russia now manufactures ​its own Shaheds.

The ‌armed forces of other countries have since adopted Shahed-type drones, including the US military, which has said they are part of ​the current campaign against Iran.