πΊ Iran has asked Russia for its newer jet-powered Geran attack drones, specifically the Geran-4 and Geran-5, for use against Israel and the US, the Financial Times reported in mid-September, citing Western security officials and a source close to the Kremlin.
It's a reversal as Russia's Geran drones themselves began as copies of Iran's Shahed, which Tehran supplied in 2022. Iran now wants Russia's upgraded jet versions, which are faster and much harder to shoot down.
A new FT report from Odesa highlights what these drones are capable of in Ukraine. Since July, a Russian air campaign led by jet-powered drones and missiles has closed the Black Sea to shipping, and stranded Ukraine's bumper harvest.
Before the 2022 invasion, those ports shipped more than 90% of Ukraine's grain exports, which fed some 300 million people in about 70 countries, FT reported. Ukraine's agriculture minister estimates losses of at least $8 billion by June 2027 if the ports stay shut, about 20% of last year's total export revenue for the country.
Russia is also hitting electricity substations, warehouses, storage depots, ships and the trains that carry grain and iron ore. "By blocking the grain they maximise economic damage," said Tymur Samosudov, commander of Odesa's drone interceptor unit. His unit claims a 95% success rate against older Shaheds, but hitting the jet-powered versions with interceptor drones is "more luck than anything else," he said.
Neither Moscow nor Tehran has confirmed the Iranian request for the drones. But some reporting suggested Russia was considering the request. The full FT report is linked in reply.