Ukraine Zelenskiy to Iran: Why support Russia and terror?

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, urged Iranians on Wednesday to reconsider the supply of deadly drones to Russia in order to stop their slide into “the dark side of history”, Reuters reports.

Iranian-made Shahed drones supplied to Moscow have played a major role in Russia’s attacks on cities and infrastructure, though Zelenskiy said Kyiv’s air defences were now skilled at downing them – about 900 of 1,160 aimed at Ukrainian targets.

“The simple question is this: what is your interest in being an accomplice to Russian terror?” Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

“What is the benefit to Iran of such cynical killing? By Russian hands, but with your weapons, your weapons … Your Shaheds, which terrorise Ukraine every night, mean only that the people of Iran are being driven deeper and deeper into the dark side of history.”

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attended the Arab League in Saudi Arabia on 19 May 2023 to canvas support for his people, Palestinians watch on as the occupation of their land continues for the 75th year – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]

Iran initially denied supplying Shahed drones to Russia but, later, said it had provided a small number before the conflict began.

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