Russia has denied reports that it is shipping modified Shahed-type drones to Iran, dismissing the claims as ‘a lot of lies’ and urging people to disregard them. According to Western intelligence cited by the Financial Times, Moscow is close to completing deliveries of these upgraded Geran systems, Russian variants of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 one-way attack drone originally supplied by Tehran for use in Ukraine.
The transfers reportedly began in early March 2026 and are expected to conclude by month’s end, with the package also including food and medicine. Produced at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan after over two years of battlefield testing, the drones feature potential wartime upgrades such as improved engines, enhanced navigation, and better resistance to electronic warfare.
If confirmed, this would mark a reversal in the drone exchange between the allies, with Russia providing lethal support to Iran amid its tensions with the United States and Israel. The FT report notes Iran also requested Russian air-defense systems; Moscow agreed to supply Verba man-portable units and missiles in late 2025 but rejected more advanced S-400 transfers due to escalation risks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on March 15, 2026, that Russia was supplying Iran with Shahed drones and providing intelligence support, aligning with the intelligence assessments.