Zelenskyy: first Shahed drones to attack Ukraine were launched by Iranian operators

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the first Shahed drones Russia used to attack Ukraine were launched by Iranian operators because the Russians had not yet been trained to use them.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference with Romanian President Nicușor Dan in Bucharest, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Details: Russia began attacking Ukraine with Shahed loitering munitions as far back as autumn 2022.

Quote: "We know how the first Shahed drones were launched. There were no Russian operators. There were operators from another country – the country the Shahed UAVs came from. Because they had to train them. And they trained them in a real war."

Background:

• On 10 March, Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian security and counter-UAV experts will travel to Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia this week.
• On 3 March, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has a shortage of PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defence systems and is willing to exchange some of its interceptor drones for them.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!