UK intel: Russia has likely run down its current stock of Iranian drones

The UK Ministry of Defense said this in its latest intelligence update published on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

According to the update, there have not been any reports of Iranian one-way-attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA-UAVs) being used in Ukraine since around February 15, 2023. Prior to this, the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported shooting down at least 24 Shahed-136 OWA-UAVs between late January and early February 2023; and scores were destroyed in the first few days of the year.

"This lack of OWA-UAV deployments likely indicates that Russia has run down its current stock. Russia will likely seek a resupply," the report said.

British intelligence said that although the weapons do not have a good record in destroying their intended targets, Russia likely sees them as useful decoys which can divert Ukrainian air defenses from more effective Russian cruise missiles.