Ukraine strikes to chop diplomatic ties with Iran after Russian drone assaults

Ukraine’s overseas minister mentioned on Tuesday he was submitting a proposal to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to formally minimize diplomatic ties with Tehran after a wave of Russian assaults utilizing what Kyiv says are Iranian-made drones.

Kyiv,UPDATED: Oct 19, 2022 06:45 IST

Ukraine mentioned Russia carried out assaults with Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Tehran denied supplying the drones. (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: Ukraine’s overseas minister mentioned on Tuesday he was submitting a proposal to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to formally minimize diplomatic ties with Tehran after a wave of Russian assaults utilizing what Kyiv says are Iranian-made drones.

Russia launched dozens of “kamikaze” drones on targets in Ukraine on Monday, hanging power infrastructure and killing a number of civilians.

Ukraine says the assaults have been carried out with Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Tehran denied supplying the drones.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned Kyiv was sure they have been Iranian and could be able to share a “bag of evidence” to European powers unsure.

“Tehran bears full responsibility for the destruction of relations with Ukraine,” Kuleba advised a information convention. “I am submitting to the president of Ukraine a proposition to sever diplomatic ties with Iran.”

Kuleba mentioned he had urged the European Union to impose sanctions on Iran “for helping Russia to kill Ukrainians.”

“Severe sanctions against Iran are especially relevant right now, as we are witnessing reports on Iranian intentions to give Russia ballistic missiles to be used against Ukrainians,” he mentioned.

“The actions of Iran are vile and deceitful. We won’t suffer them, because all those actions were done while Iran told us that they didn’t support the war and won’t support any of the sides with their weapons.”

Kuleba mentioned Kyiv would ship an official be aware to Israel in search of instant air defence provides and cooperation within the sector. There was no instant Israeli response to Kuleba’s remarks.

‘USING IRANIAN DRONES SHOWS RUSSIA IS MILITARILY BANKRUPT’

The Ukrainian overseas ministry’s transfer got here after Zelensky mentioned earlier within the day on Tuesday that Russia’s newest assaults on infrastructure have relied on Iranian-made Shahed-136 “kamikaze” drones.

Iran denied supplying unmanned aerial automobiles to Russia — an assertion Washington says is unfaithful. The Kremlin on Tuesday mentioned it had no details about whether or not or not Iranian “kamikaze” drones have been used.

“Let us bear in mind that the very fact that Russia has sought help from Iran is an admission by the Kremlin that it is bankrupt in military and political terms,” Zelenskiy mentioned in a nightly video handle.

“For decades, they spent billions of dollars on their own military industrial complex. And in the end, they bowed down to Tehran in order to secure quite simple drones and missiles.”

Zelensky, who mentioned the latest strikes have put 30% of Ukraine’s energy stations out of motion, mentioned utilizing the weapons would possibly generate hopes and illusions amongst Russian leaders, however would nonetheless be of no assist. “It will simply show the world once again that Russia is headed for defeat and is trying to drag yet another one of its accomplices into this terror,” mentioned the Ukrainian President.