Russians could engage Kurdish mercenaries in launching drone strikes on Ukraine - GUR

This is evidenced by an intercepted call of Shahed kamikaze drone operators during the mass attack on Ukrainian territory on February 10, which was published on Facebook by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

"In order to organize a drone attack on the territory of Ukraine, the occupiers likely engaged foreign mercenaries... This is a short dialogue between the two Shahed operators who clarify the coordinates of the target. At the same time, the interlocutors communicate in a dialect of the Kurdish language interspersed with some Farsi words," the report reads.

It is noted that the command of the occupying forces engage more than just Iranian instructors who teach Russians how to operate drones in attacks on the territory of Ukraine. The said intercept may indicate that Kurdish mercenaries who have experience in the combat use of Shahed drones are also fighting on Russia’s side.

The GUR recalled that during their operations in Syria, Russian troops had already engaged armed units consisting of Kurdish and Afghan mercenaries.

As reported by Ukrinform, Iranian instructors have been helping Russian invaders launch kamikaze drones from Crimean training grounds and occupied parts of Kherson region.