War in Ukraine: What are the kamikaze drones used by Russia?

Ukraine has reported an increase in Russian attacks with Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks, calling for increased Western aid in the face of this new challenge. Iran denies providing these remotely piloted drones to Russia, while the Kremlin has not commented.

But what are these kamikaze drones? In accordance with CNNdrones have played a major role in the invasion of Ukraine since last February but their use has skyrocketed since receiving new ones from Iran over the summer.

These drones have the ability to stay for a long time in the area that has been targeted and “strike” when their operator confirms that the desired enemy target is present.

Iran’s kamikaze drones are small, portable and can be taken off easily, but their main advantage, according to CNN’s analysis, is that they are difficult to detect and their explosive payload can be detonated from a distance.

The name “kamikaze” was given to them due to the fact that they are expendable. They are designed to strike behind enemy lines and are destroyed unlike the larger and faster military drones which return to their bases after being deployed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denounced that Russia has ordered 2,400 Shahed-136 drones from Iran.

The EU is looking for evidence of Iran’s involvement in the war in Ukraine

Meanwhile, the EU is looking for concrete evidence of any Iranian involvement in the war in Ukraine, European foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said today, although Tehran denied it has supplied drones to Russia.

At the same time, he pointed out that he does not expect any progress in the negotiations for the revival of the 2015 international agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

“We will look for concrete evidence of (Iran’s) involvement in the Ukrainian war,” Borel noted as he arrived at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, which will also be attended by Ukrainian Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

“I don’t expect any movement, it’s a shame because we were very close,” he added, referring to the 2015 deal, noting that negotiations with Tehran have stalled in recent weeks.

According to two diplomats involved in the preparatory talks between the foreign ministers, the EU may impose new sanctions against Iran over the drones, as reported by Reuters and relayed by the Athens News Agency.

Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofond said for his part that the EU should react strongly to new airstrikes against Kiev which hit residential buildings near a central railway station this morning.

“What we can see now: Iranian drones being used in an attack in the center of Kiev, this is an atrocity,” Kofod stressed, pointing out that the EU must take “concrete steps” in response, as well as violently suppressing protests in Iran.

However, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs IranNasser Kanaani, said today that reports that Tehran has offered drones to Russia are false.

“The news that Iran is offering Russia drones is politically motivated and is circulating from Western imgs. We have not provided weapons to any side,” he stressed.