Ukraine downs 10 more Iran-made “kamikaze” drones in latest Russian barrage

Ukraine has said that it has successfully downed Iranian-made drones that Russia was using to hit targets in the south of the country.

Ukraine’s Air Force issued a statement that Russia had mounted attacks using Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the oblasts of Kherson, Nikolaev and Odesa on Friday.

“Ukraine’s Air Force shot down ten enemy kamikaze drones,” the statement said, according to a translation, which referred to the name given to the loitering munitions that have been the scourge of Ukrainian air defenses.

“Our Air Force shot down 10 of 15 Russian Kamikaze drones last night. We sleep better knowing they are protecting us,” tweeted Ukrainian lawmaker Kira Rudik.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.

Meanwhile, authorities in the Odesa region said that a Shahed drone attack on Friday had left the entire region without power, Euromaidan Press reported.

“As a result of the strike, there is no electricity in almost all districts and communities of our region,” Odesa oblast governor Maxim Marchenko wrote on Telegram. “Energy workers are already working on restoring the damaged infrastructure.”

On Friday, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said that Russia had probably exhausted its previous stock of the drones from Tehran “and has now received a resupply.”

On Wednesday, Ukraine reportedly used Soviet-era drones to strike deep within Russian territory, including an airbase in Saratov nearly 400 miles from the Ukrainian border.

It comes amid Western alarm at the extent at the role Tehran is playing in the war in Ukraine. The U.S. has criticized Iran-Russia security cooperation, but White House national security spokesman John Kirby said that this now included the supply of equipment such as helicopters and fighter jets, as well as drones.

“Russia is seeking to collaborate with Iran in areas like weapons development, training,” Kirby told reporters, noting what was turning into a “fully fledged defense partnership.”

Russia is also reportedly turning to Iran for short-range ballistic missiles, which British defense officials said are likely to be used to continue its barrage on critical infrastructure.

Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia rejected the accusation from the U.K. Ambassador to the U.N. Barbara Woodward about close military ties between Moscow and Tehran.

On December 9, Kirby announced a new $275 million aid package to help boost Ukraine’s air defenses, in particular against Russian drones.

The Pentagon said that the package includes counter-drone equipment, as well as ammunition for HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), which have been used with good effect against Russian targets.

The U.S. will also provide 80,000 155mm artillery rounds and some 150 generators, as well as other equipment.