Tehran-made Drone Used For Russia's Deadly Attack On Ukraine, President Zelensky: What Are Iran's Benefits?

President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Iran on Wednesday to reconsider supply of deadly drones to Russia, to stop them from entering "the dark side of history."

Iranian-made Shahed drones supplied to Moscow have played a major role in Russia's attacks on cities and infrastructure, although President Zelensky said Kyiv's air defenses were now skilled at knocking him out, about 900 out of 1.160 aimed at Ukraine's targets.

"The simple question is, what is your interest in being an accomplice to Russia's terror?" President Zelensky said in a late-night video address.

"What is the advantage for Iran from such cynical killings? With the hands of Russia, but with your weapons, your weapon... Shahed you, who terrorizes Ukraine every night, means only that the Iranian people are pushed deeper into the dark side of history," President Zelensky said.

Russia is known to have stepped up its military cooperation with Iran since it launched an invasion of its neighboring country in February 2022.

Meanwhile, Iran initially denied supplying Shahed drones to Russia. However, later said they had provided a small number of drones before the conflict began.