Ukraine: Russia has launched over 8,000 Shahed drones since the start of the war

Ukraine states that since the beginning of the war, Russia has launched over 8,000 Shahed drones. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday, September 23, that Russia has launched a total of 8,060 Shahed drones against Ukraine since the start of Putin's full-scale invasion in March 2023. The Wall Street Journal reported in May that Moscow is actively producing Shahed drones with the help of the Islamic Republic on Russian soil. Ukraine and its Western partners, including the United States, accuse the Iranian government of providing military support to Russia, including supplying combat drones and ballistic missiles. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Tuesday, September 20, that Russia has received ballistic missiles from Iran and is likely to use them in its war against Ukraine within weeks. The Iranian government has denied this. Following the announcement of the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia, the U.S., U.K., Germany, and France imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities involved in this operation on September 20. On September 23, Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, condemned the transfer of Iranian-made ballistic missiles to Russia, describing it as a 'direct threat' to European security and indicative of a significant increase in the supply of Iranian drones and other military munitions to Russia, which are used in the illegal and aggressive war against Ukraine. He pointed out recent missile and drone attacks by Russia on Ukraine, including energy infrastructure, and Moscow's efforts to maximize civilian casualties and cause widespread destruction, stating: 'Iranian ballistic missiles can now be used to inflict more suffering and destruction in Ukraine.' The senior European diplomat reiterated the EU's longstanding position on Iran's involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, stating: 'The EU has repeatedly warned Iran about the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia.' He concluded that the EU's response would be 'swift' and coordinated with international partners, including 'new and significant' sanctions against individuals and entities involved in Iran's missile and drone programs, and that they are also considering restrictive measures in Iran's aviation sector. Meanwhile, Reuters reported on Friday, citing a diplomatic source, that the Iranian chargé d'affaires in Paris was summoned on Thursday regarding the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia. Earlier, the British Foreign Office had also summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires in London in protest against the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine. These four countries sanctioned key individuals and entities involved in Iran's military support for Russia, including Iran Air. The three countries, the U.K., Germany, and France, also canceled bilateral agreements with Iran regarding air services. In a joint statement, these three European countries described the export of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia as a sign of 'increased military support from Iran for Russia's invasion of Ukraine' and as an action to 'target European soil with Iranian missiles and exacerbate the suffering of the Ukrainian people.' The U.S. Treasury also announced sanctions against 20 individuals, entities, and ships involved in the transfer of Iranian missiles to Russia. The increasing cooperation between the Islamic Republic and Russia in recent years has led Western countries to impose several extensive sanction packages against Iranian individuals and entities involved in these collaborations. Reactions to the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia continue, with Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, accusing America and Europe on Wednesday via social media of acting 'based on false information and flawed logic,' claiming that Iran has not sent ballistic missiles to Russia. This claim comes despite Ahmad Bakhshaei-Ardestani, a member of the National Security Commission of the Iranian Parliament, stating on September 8 in an interview with the Iran Watch website that 'Iran exports drones and missiles to Russia as part of its economic and political cooperation. In return, the Russians cooperate with Iran to circumvent sanctions. We import many of our goods from Iran through Russia.' He elaborated on the nature of Iran and Russia's cooperation, stating: 'We need to barter for our needs, including imports of soybeans and wheat. Part of the barter includes sending missiles and the other part sending military drones to Russia.' When asked whether the news of Iran's ballistic missile transfer to Russia could lead to more sanctions and the potential activation of the snapback mechanism, Bakhshaei-Ardestani responded: 'There is no color darker than black. We provide missiles to Hezbollah, Hamas, and Hashd al-Shaabi, so why not to Russia?' This admission by the parliament member regarding Iran's military assistance to its proxy groups comes at a time when Iranian military and political officials have repeatedly denied military assistance to these groups. The Islamic Republic has reacted to the new sanctions; summoning heads of European diplomatic missions in Iran. Blinken praised Warsaw's role in supporting Ukraine; Poland stated that the 'Tehran butcher' policy continues during the presidency of Medvedev. A Russian ship suspected of carrying Iranian-made ballistic missiles was spotted in a port in the Caspian Sea. U.S. and U.K. foreign ministers visited Kyiv: Putin has intensified the war by receiving missiles from the Islamic Republic. London protested against the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia, with the British Foreign Office summoning the Iranian chargé d'affaires. The U.S. and U.K. foreign ministers entered Kyiv to reaffirm support for Ukraine. The U.S. Secretary of State stated that the delivery of missiles to Russia during Medvedev's presidency contradicts his claims of improving Iran's economy. Ukraine has not ruled out severing ties with the Islamic Republic over the missile transfer to Russia. The U.S. stated that it would respond to the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia with 'significant consequences.' The EU stated that the transfer of ballistic missiles signifies a significant increase in Iran's support for Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Kyiv warned Tehran that the transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia has 'devastating consequences'; the Iranian chargé d'affaires was summoned in Ukraine. Concerns in Kyiv regarding the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia: it threatens Ukraine, Europe, and the Middle East.