The drones have been linked to other attacks on countries in the region; their manufacturers are not always clear
A Shahed drone on display during the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran February 11, 2026 PHOTO: REUTERS
Russia is supplying Iran with Shahed drones to use against the US and Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told CNN in an interview excerpt aired on Saturday.
Zelenskiy told CNN‘s Fareed Zakaria that it is “100% facts” that Iran has used Russian-made Shaheds to attack US bases.
Shahed drones have been linked to other attacks on countries in the region, although their manufacturers are not always clear.
Read: Five US Air Force refuelling planes struck in Iranian missile strike on Saudi Arabia
Iran pioneered the Shahed drone, a much cheaper alternative to expensive missiles. They first saw mass use in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where thousands of them have been launched by Russian forces since the fall of 2022, according to the Ukrainians.
Although Iran initially provided the drones, Russia now manufactures its own Shaheds. The armed forces of other countries have since adopted Shahed-type drones, including the US military, which has said they are part of the current campaign against Iran.
