UAF says they have shot down an Iranian drone; Russia denies purchasing such weapons

The Department of Strategic Communications of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) reported that they shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Kupyansk, in the Kharkiv region, which “in all likelihood” was produced in Iran.

“An analysis of the appearance of wing elements of the unmanned aircraft tells us that, for the first time, the UAF has destroyed an Iranian UAV. We’re talking about a long-range Shahed-136,” Ukrainian Strategic Communications announced.

On the morning of September 13, Ukrainian news portal Militarny reported that a UAF officer had posted photos on Twitter of a drone shot down in the vicinity of Kupyansk. Militarny noted that a Cyrillic inscription, reading “M214 Geran-2,” was visible on the drone, “however, the appearance of the body is identical to an Iranian long-range Shahed-136.”

During a war it is difficult to verify information disseminated by parties to the conflict.

According to US intelligence sources speaking to the Washington Post, in mid-August, Russia received its first batch of attack drones from Iran for use in the war in Ukraine. According to intelligence reports, Russia received two types of aircraft, from the Mohajer-6 and Shahed series, which are capable of attacking radar and artillery deep within enemy defenses. Iran denied the sale. The Kremlin called the reports “information stuffing.”

In September the New York Times and other Western media, citing US intelligence, reported that Russia was buying millions of artillery shells, as well as short- and medium-range missiles, from North Korea.