Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told CNN that Russia is supplying Iran with Shahed drones and insisted it was "100% facts" that Russian-made Shaheds have been used to strike U.S. bases. Shahed drones—developed by Iran as a low-cost alternative to missiles—were widely used in Ukraine, where Ukrainian officials say thousands have been launched since fall 2022. Russia now produces its own variants, and Shahed-type drones have been linked to attacks across the Middle East.
Zelenskiy Says Russia Supplying Shahed Drones To Iran, Alleging Use Against U.S. Bases
A Shahed drone on display during the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran February 11, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
March 14 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told CNN in an interview excerpt aired on Saturday that Russia is supplying Iran with Shahed drones intended for use against the United States and Israel.
Speaking to CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Zelenskiy said it was "100% facts" that Iran has used Russian-made Shaheds to strike U.S. bases. The president's comment indicates concerns about a flow of drone technology and components between Russia and Iran amid rising regional tensions.
Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles were first developed in Iran as a cheaper alternative to conventional missiles. They saw mass deployment during Russia's invasion of Ukraine; Ukrainian officials say Russian forces launched thousands of Shahed-type drones beginning in fall 2022.
While Iran initially supplied the systems, Russia now produces its own Shahed variants. Shahed-type drones have been linked to attacks across the Middle East, although attribution of individual strikes and the precise manufacturers are not always clear.
The U.S. military has said such drones are a factor in the current campaign against Iran, and a number of armed forces have encountered or adopted Shahed-style systems.
Zelenskiy: "It is 100% facts that Iran has used Russian-made Shaheds to strike U.S. bases," he told CNN's Fareed Zakaria.
Reporting by Dan Catchpole in Seattle; Editing by Sergio Non and Jamie Freed
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