Ukraine Claims To Have Shot Down Iranian-made Russian Drone, Called Type Shahed-136

Part of a drone allegedly owned by Russia and made in Iran that was successfully brought down by Ukrainian troops. (Twitter/@kms_d4k)

JAKARTA - Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday it had shot down an Iranian-made drone used by the Russian armed forces in the northeastern region of Kharkiv.

This is the first time Kyiv has claimed to have lost one of these devices since Moscow reportedly eyed a Tehran-made drone.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense posted an image of what appears to be part of the destroyed drone, with the words 'Geran-2' next to it in Russian. The wingtips seem to match the Iranian Shahed-136 drone.

It said the drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), had been "disappeared" near Kupiansk, a town in the Kharkiv region that was recently recaptured by Ukraine.

Military experts say the Iranian drones will be useful to Russia for reconnaissance and as 'roaming' munitions, which can bide their time in finding and striking suitable targets.

Iranian attack UAV Shahed-136, eliminated by the #UAarmy near Kupiansk, Kharkiv region.

🇷🇺 and 🇮🇷: A perfect union of two despots.

📷 @kms_d4k pic.twitter.com/M7sQ9PX1hJ

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 13, 2022

While citing Arab News, the easily recognized delta-136 Drone Shahed 136 wing was dropped near the city of Kupiansk as Russian troops withdrew to the border. The drone is said to have failed to explode, as is designed to do.

Iran has multiple versions of the Shahed drone that have varying ranges, up to about 2.000 kilometers.

As previously reported, Uncle Sam's state officials said last July they had information that Iran was preparing to give Russia up to several hundred drones, including some capable of carrying weapons.

It said Russian officials had also visited Iran, to see unmanned aerial vehicles capable of attack.

The claim raises fears that Iran, which has supplied drones to its allies in the Middle East, is now providing support to Russia for the war in Ukraine.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at the time denied the claims, including in a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart.

"We have various forms of cooperation with Russia, including in the defense sector. But we are not helping any of the parties involved in the Ukraine conflict, because we believe it must be resolved," he said, as reported by TASS.

Interestingly, Iranian Army Commander Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari said Iran was ready to export advanced weapons, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to friendly countries, as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tehran as well last July.