Russia gets large deliveries of Iranian drones via Caspian Sea – UK intelligence
The UK Ministry of Defense said this in a new intelligence update published on Twitter, according to Ukrinform.
"In recent months, Russia has highly likely worked to ensure its long-term, high-volume supply of one-way-attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA-UAVs). By supplying these weapons, Iran continues to breach UN Security Council Resolution 2231," the report said.
According to the ministry, Russia has likely moved from receiving small deliveries of Iranian OWA-UAVs by air transport, to larger consignments by ship from Iran via the Caspian Sea.
According to British intelligence, this "International North-South Transit Corridor" has assumed much more importance since the invasion. It allows Russia to access Asian markets - including arms transfers - in ways it hopes are less vulnerable to international sanctions.
Russia is also working to start domestic production of OWA-UAVs, almost certainly with Iranian assistance.
"Russia is highly likely investing in OWA-UAVs because it provides Russia with a relatively cheap long-range strike capability at a time when it has expended a large proportion of its cruise missile stocks in Ukraine," the UK Ministry of Defense said.
On June 13, during another missile attack on Ukraine, the enemy launched 14 cruise missiles, and 11 of them were intercepted by air defense forces. One attack drone was also destroyed.
