Ukraine War Update: Iran supplying Russia with ‘weapons-capable’ UAVs, White House says

by Chris Lange

Chris Lange, FISM News

 

Russia is looking to Iran to provide its forces with hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles, including weapons-capable drones, according to the White House. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday that the U.S. has “information” showing that Iran is preparing to train Russian forces on using the systems as soon as this month, according to a Reuters report

“That is that our information indicates that the Iranian government is preparing to provide Russia with up to several hundred UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle), including weapons-capable UAVs, on an expedited timeline. Our information further indicates that Iran is preparing to train Russian forces to use these UAVs, with initial training sessions slated to begin as soon as early July,” Sullivan said at a White House briefing yesterday.

Putin fast-tracks citizenship 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday expanded an expedited procedure whereby Ukrainians can obtain Russian citizenship. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the move exemplifies Putin’s “predatory appetites.”

“Russia is using the simplified procedure for issuing passports to tighten the noose around the necks of residents of the temporarily occupied territories of our state, forcing them to participate in the criminal activities of the occupying administrations and the Russian army of aggression,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The announcement followed Russia’s shelling of Kharkiv on Monday that killed at least six people and injured 31, according to local officials, one of whom described the attack as “absolute terrorism.”

Russia’s Defense Ministry said the attacks struck deployment points for Ukraine’s “nationalist battalions.” Kharkiv regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram that children between the ages of four and 16 were among the wounded.

“Only civilian structures — a shopping center and houses of peaceful Kharkiv residents — came under the fire of the Russians. Several shells hit the yards of private houses. Garages and cars were also destroyed. Several fires broke out,” Syniehubov wrote. He said the three missile strikes targeted a school, a residential building, and warehouse facilities.

“All (three were launched) exclusively on civilian objects. This is absolute terrorism!” Syniehubov said.

Ukraine targets Russian ammunition depots

Elsewhere, Ukrainian officials announced late Monday that its forces destroyed a Russian ammunition depot in Novy Kakhovka in Kherson, a region that is almost completely occupied by Russia. Kyiv has been focusing attacks on Kremlin ammunition depots in recent days in what analysts say is likely part of a counteroffensive to reclaim Russian-occupied territory.

Russia’s Tass news agency denied Ukraine’s account of the strike, claiming instead that it targeted a mineral fertilizer storage facility that exploded, damaging a hospital, a market, and nearby homes. Tass also said there were casualties but did not provide a number. It further claimed the weapon used in the strike was fired from a U.S.-supplied multiple-launch High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Ukraine has not commented on the type of weapon used. 

Fears of energy crisis 

Moscow announced Monday that it closed its Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany for 10 days to perform maintenance. The closure has stoked fears in Europe that Russia might not turn it back on, particularly since Russia’s Gazprom energy firm has already reduced the gas flow through the pipeline by 60%.

“There can be no doubt that Russia will try not just to limit as much as possible, but to completely shut down the supply of gas to Europe at the most acute moment,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday in response to the announcement. “This is what we need to prepare for now, this is what is being provoked now.”

Biden asks U.S. Congress to ratify NATO memberships for Sweden, Finland

President Biden on Monday formally asked Congress to ratify the acceptance of Finland and Sweden into the NATO alliance. 

The president said both countries “more than meet” the requirements for membership into the intergovernmental military alliance and that they “share critically important values with the United States.”

“I ask the Senate to continue working with my Administration in advancing a strong and free Europe by providing its prompt advice and consent to ratification of the Protocols,” Biden said in a statement. “We are encouraging all Allies to act expeditiously in their own ratification processes as well, given current global considerations.”  

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