Russia has experienced “numerous failures” with Iranian-made drones it purchased from Tehran this month for use in the war in Ukraine, according to a senior US administration official quoted by Reuters.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the United States estimates that Russia received the Mohajer-6 and Shahed series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within a few days in August.

The official said the shipments were likely part of Moscow’s plan to buy hundreds of drones.

“We assess that Russia plans to use these Iranian drones, which can conduct air-to-ground attacks, electronic warfare and targeting on the battlefield in Ukraine,” the official said.

The US has warned that Russia is getting drones from Iran

In July, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that the United States had intelligence indicating that Iran was preparing to supply Russia with several hundred drones.

The head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry assured Ukraine that his country has no intention of selling drones to Russia.

Last month, the Biden administration released satellite images indicating that Russian officials visited Kashan Airfield on June 8 and July 5 to view Iranian drones.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein-Amir Abdollahian said last month that Tehran has “various types of cooperation with Russia, including in the defense sector.”

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