Russia has increased the supply of Iranian drones through the Caspian Sea

Iran has switched from supplying Russia with small shipments of Shahed attack drones by air to large shipments by ship across the Caspian Sea, reports . UK intelligence

The North-South transport corridor allows Russia to receive weapons from Asian markets with less damage in the context of violating sanctions, according to the British Ministry of Defense. Chairman of the US National Security Council John Kirby stated that the drones are coming from the Iranian Amirabad to Makhachkala.

Russia, according to the UK, is investing in the production of attack drones and is likely to launch the production of Shahed drones on its territory with the help of Iran. Previously, US authorities reported that an Iranian drone factory is being built in the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan (10 km from Yelabuga). The Wall Street Journal wrote that they plan to assemble improved versions of the Shahed-136 with a more powerful engine.

According to Lloyd 's List Intelligence, the number of “dark” cargo transportation across the Caspian Sea has been increasing since September. By the first quarter of 2023, more than 2,000 “gaps” were recorded in the tracking system for Russian and Iranian cargo ships. They turn off transponders and confuse routes between Anzali, Amirabad, Astrakhan and ports on the Volga.

Russia regularly uses Shahed drones in attacks on Ukrainian cities. On the night of June 13, four such UAVs were launched, one of them was shot down, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported.