Ukrainian Official Considers Iranian Missiles in Russia as a Legitimate Target

A high-ranking Ukrainian official emphasized on Monday that Western allies should allow Ukraine to use weapons provided by them to target military depots inside Russia. This request comes as there are strong suspicions that Iran may have supplied ballistic missiles to support Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.
The United States has reportedly informed its allies that Iran has allegedly sent short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for the conflict in Ukraine, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Despite Western countries supporting Ukraine, concerns have arisen about allowing Ukrainian forces to strike Russian targets, fearing escalation in the already significant conflict. However, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office stressed that “protection is not escalation.”
Andrii Yermak, on his Telegram channel, stated, “In response to the supply of ballistic missiles to Russia, Ukraine must be allowed to destroy warehouses storing these missiles with Western weapons in order to avoid terror.” The specific country providing these missiles was not specified.
Since the commencement of the war in February 2022, Russia has carried out multiple destructive missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, resulting in the death of over 10,000 civilians as per a United Nations count. These attacks have also severely impacted electricity production in the region.
Despite the onslaught, Ukraine has stood firm and recently undertook a daring operation into Russia’s Kursk region while also pushing back against Russian advances in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
Reports indicate that Russia has been receiving Iranian-made Shahed drones since 2022, adding to concerns of potential Iranian ballistic missile deliveries. The prospect of such arms transfers has raised alarms among Western governments as President Vladimir Putin seeks assistance from various countries.
In response to reports of Iranian missile shipments to Russia, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims as untrue but acknowledged Iran as a significant partner. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani denied Tehran’s involvement in arming Russia, labeling such allegations as politically motivated.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the issue, urging Iran to cease supplying weapons to Russia as a demonstration of its commitment to peace. CIA Director William Burns highlighted the worrisome defense relationships between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, posing threats to Ukraine and Western allies in the Middle East.
China’s Defense Ministry announced joint naval and air exercises with Russia starting this month. While China has not directly provided arms to Russia, it plays a crucial role as a major consumer of Russian energy resources and supplier of various dual-use products.
Jon Gambrell contributed to this report from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Stay updated on AP’s coverage of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.