Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has disclosed that the first Shahed drones used in attacks against Ukraine were operated by personnel from Iran, rather than Russian operators, who required training.
This statement was made during a press conference with Romanian President Nicolae Ciucă in Bucharest, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
“We know how the first Shaheds were launched. There were no Russian operators. There were operators from another country, the country from which the Shaheds came. They needed to be trained, and they were trained in real combat,” Zelensky stated.
Russia commenced its use of Shahed drones in assaults on Ukraine in the fall of 2022.
In related developments, Zelensky announced on March 10 that Ukrainian security experts would be traveling to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia this week to enhance their counter-drone capabilities.
Earlier, on March 3, he indicated that Ukraine is facing a shortage of PAC-3 missiles for its Patriot air defense systems and is open to exchanging its interceptor drones for these crucial munitions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that Iranian operators were behind the initial launches of Shahed drones used in attacks on Ukraine, highlighting the need for Russian personnel training. This information comes amid ongoing discussions about Ukraine's air defense capabilities and international cooperation.