Ukrainian authorities have officially documented the involvement of an Iranian general in aiding Russia with drone technology. General Abdollah Mehhrabi, head of the Aerospace Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is alleged to have facilitated the supply of Iranian MD 550 engines to Russia, which are installed on the Shahed-136 drones used in attacks against Ukraine.
Investigations revealed that Mehhrabi leveraged his position as a co-owner and chairman of a key Iranian company specializing in drone engine production. This entity is considered strategically vital to Iran’s military-industrial complex.
According to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, in January 2023, Mehhrabi personally visited Yelabuga in the Republic of Tatarstan. During this visit, he assisted in establishing a new production site within the Alabuga special economic zone for the mass manufacturing of kamikaze drones.
This collaboration has reportedly enabled Russia to acquire over 13,000 Geran-2 drones, a Russian variant of the Shahed-136, along with equipment and components valued at more than $324 million throughout 2023 and 2024.
In addition to technical support, Mehhrabi is implicated in training Russian military personnel. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office indicated that he organized the training of drone operators and engineers in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, specifically in Crimea and the Kherson region. These units have utilized Iranian technologies to target civilian infrastructure and residents in Ukraine.
Based on the evidence collected, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has issued a formal suspicion against Abdollah Mehhrabi for complicity in waging an aggressive war, carried out in conspiracy with a group. The potential penalties under the relevant articles include life imprisonment. Efforts are ongoing to hold the suspect accountable.
Ukrainian authorities have charged Iranian General Abdollah Mehhrabi with facilitating drone technology supplies to Russia, contributing to attacks on Ukraine. The investigation details his role in establishing drone production facilities and training Russian military personnel in occupied regions.