Iranian military personnel are “on the ground in Crimea” helping Russian forces carry out Iranian-made drone strikes in Ukraine, the White House said Thursday.
“Today we can confirm that Russian soldiers based in Crimea have piloted Iranian drones, using them to carry out attacks in Ukraine, including in kyiv in recent days,” US Presidential National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
“I don’t have the number of Iranians that are in Crimea,” he said, hinting that they are still on the ground alongside Russian forces.
“Tehran is now directly engaged on the ground”
“Russia has received dozens of drones so far and will continue to receive more,” the spokesman continued, noting that the United States is concerned that Russia is now seeking to acquire Iranian conventional weapons such as surface-to-surface missiles for use in Ukraine.
John Kirby clarified that the Iranians present in Ukraine were trainers and technicians and that the attacks, which severely damaged Ukrainian infrastructure, had been carried out by Russian soldiers.
“Tehran is now directly engaged on the ground,” he stressed. “The United States will do everything possible to uncover, deter, and combat these arms shipments,” she added. “We will continue to vigorously enforce sanctions against arms sales from both Russia and Iran.”
Source: BFM TV
