Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Iran of taking “blood money” from Russia for supplying “kamikaze” drones used in deadly attacks against cities including Kyiv.
The use of drones in the war in Ukraine has increased since the summer, when the United States and Kyiv say Moscow acquired Shahed-136 drones from Iran. Tehran has denied supplying weapons to Russia despite evidence to the contrary.
“I do not trust the leadership of Iran,” Zelensky said in an interview with Canada’s CTV on Wednesday.
“They publicly denied all that, saying that we didn’t sell anything, but here we see. Hundreds of strikes. At Ukraine, at the capital, at civil infrastructure, at schools, nearby the university, at the university and the shutting down of our energy system.”
CNN reported Tuesday that Iran has sent military personnel to Russian-occupied territory inside Crimea to train and advise the Russian military on the use of their drones, according to two sources familiar with US intelligence.
A spokesman for the Iranian mission at the United Nations said, “Iran does not confirm this claim and rejects it.”
Zelensky however, was unequivocal in his accusations against Tehran.
