Ukraine has invited UN experts to verify the origin and series of drones used by Russia to attack Ukrainian targets. This was reported by Voice of America with reference to a letter from the Ambassador of Ukraine to the UN, Serhiy Kyslitsa, to the UN Secretary General, António Guterres.
Kyiv claims that these are Iranian-made drones, and their export to Russia is a violation of UN Security Council resolution 2231.
Security Council Resolution 2231 provides, in particular, for an embargo for Iran on the export of certain types of weapons, without the consent of the UN Security Council.
“At the end of August 2022, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the Mohajer and Shahed series were transferred from Iran to Russia. Ukraine believes this is likely part of Iran's plan to export hundreds of UAVs to Russia. Paragraph 4 of Annex B to UN Security Council Resolution 2231 describes the ban on the transfer from Iran of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technologies set forth in Annex S/2015/546, unless approved by the Security Council in each particular case. Representative of Ukraine to the UN.
According to Kislitsa, both types of drones delivered to Russia have the parameters of weapons prohibited for export.
Kislitsa also informed that Mohajer drones are manufactured by Qods Aviation, which is subject to the Resolution 2231 assets freeze.
“All states are required to freeze the funds or financial assets of certain organizations,” writes the Ukrainian representative to the UN.
Iran has officially denied supplying Russia with drones to attack Ukraine.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said during a weekly press conference on Monday that Iran "has not provided weapons to any side of countries at war."
The Pentagon said it saw ample evidence of Russian use of Iranian drones against both military and civilian targets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that over the past week, "30% of Ukrainian power plants have been destroyed, causing massive power outages across the country."