European components found in Iranian Kamikaze drones used by Russia amid war, says report

In a recent revelation, Ukrainian authorities have uncovered the utilisation of European components in Iranian kamikaze drones that were employed during attacks on Ukrainian cities. According to a report from The Guardian, a confidential document shared with Western allies in August has shed light on this unsettling discovery, while also making a plea for long-range missiles to target production sites in Russia, Iran, and Syria.

The 47-page dossier, submitted by Ukraine's government to the G7 nations, discloses that over 600 raids on cities in the past three months involved unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with Western technology. Notably, the document identifies 52 electrical components from Western companies in the Shahed-131 drone and 57 in the Shahed-136 model, the latter boasting an impressive flight range of 2,000km (1,240 miles) and a cruising speed of 180kmh (111mph).

Iran continues to supply crucial components to Russia

The origins of these components trace back to five European companies, including a Polish subsidiary of a British multinational. The document goes on to state that some of these firms have their headquarters in countries that are part of the sanctions coalition, such as the United States, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Japan, and Poland.

The situation is further complicated by Iran's efforts to diversify its drone production. While the document indicates that Iran has involved a Syrian factory in the port of Novorossiysk, the focus is now shifting to Russia, specifically the central Tartar region of Alabuga. Tehran continues to supply crucial components to Russia, despite attempting to distance itself from direct arms provision to its neighbor. The document points out that Iran is struggling to meet Russia's surging demand for drones and their intensifying use in Ukraine.

Among the more audacious recommendations presented to Ukraine's Western allies, which they might be hesitant to endorse, are proposals for "missile strikes on the production plants of these UAVs in Iran, Syria, as well as on a potential production site in the Russian Federation." The document concludes that such actions could be carried out by the Ukrainian defense forces if the necessary means of destruction were provided by its international partners.