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A number of European components were found in Iranian kamikaze drones used by Russia to attack cities in Ukraine. Photo/Illustration
KIEV – Drone kamikaze Iran used Russia in recent attacks on cities Ukraine filled with components of European origin. This is based on a secret document that Kiev sent to its western allies when they requested long-range missiles to attack production sites in Russia, Iran and Syria.
In a 47-page document submitted by the Ukrainian government to the G7 governments in August, it was claimed there had been more than 600 attacks on Ukrainian cities using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) containing Western technology in the previous three months.
According to the paper obtained by The Guardian, 52 electrical components manufactured by western companies were found on the Shahed-131 drone and 57 on the Shahed-136 model, which has a flight range of 2,000 km and a cruising speed of 2,000 km at 180kmh.
Five European companies including the British multinational’s Polish subsidiary were named as original manufacturers of the identified components.
“Among these manufacturers there are companies headquartered in sanctions coalition countries: the United States, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Japan and Poland,” the report claimed as quoted by the UK-based media, Thursday (28 /9/2023).
According to the document, Iran has diversified its production through the use of a Syrian factory that makes deliveries to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, but drone production shifted to Russia, to the central Tartar region of Alabuga, although Tehran continues to supply components.
It said that the Iranian government is trying to distance itself from providing weapons to Russia and cannot meet Russia’s demands and the intensity of its use of weapons in Ukraine.
Among the suggestions Ukraine has put forward to its Western allies – which they will likely reject – are missile attacks on UAV production plants in Iran, Syria, as well as potential production sites in the Russian federation.
“The above can be carried out by Ukraine’s defense forces if its partners provide the necessary means of destruction,” the document said.