Ukraine asked Israel for intel on Iranian support to Russia - report

Ukraine said on Friday that it would withdraw accreditation of the Iranian ambassador over Iran's supplying of drones to Russia.

 A drone is launched during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on August 25, 2022 (photo credit: VIA REUTERS)
A drone is launched during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on August 25, 2022
(photo credit: VIA REUTERS)

Ukraine asked Israel to share intelligence on Iranian support being provided to Russia, according to Axios.

The request was made during a meeting between Israel's deputy director general for Euro-Asia Simona Halperin and Ukraine's special representative for the Middle East Maksym Subkh in Kyiv earlier this month.

Subkh added that Ukraine is opposed to the lifting of sanctions on Iran if a nuclear deal is reached, as this would enable greater military cooperation between Iran and Russia, according to the report.

Ukraine acts in response to Iranian drones

Ukraine said on Friday that it would withdraw accreditation of the Iranian ambassador and significantly reduce the number of diplomatic staff at the Iranian embassy in Kyiv over Tehran's decision to supply Russian forces with drones, a move President Volodymyr Zelensky called "a collaboration with evil."

 A part of an unmanned aerial vehicle, what Ukrainian military authorities described as an Iranian made suicide drone Shahed-136 and which was shot down near the town of Kupiansk, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, is seen in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released September 13, 2022 (credit: THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE OF THE UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)
A part of an unmanned aerial vehicle, what Ukrainian military authorities described as an Iranian made suicide drone Shahed-136 and which was shot down near the town of Kupiansk, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, is seen in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, in this handout picture released September 13, 2022 (credit: THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE OF THE UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

He did not directly refer to drones. Iran has previously denied supplying drones to Russia, but the hardline daily Kayhan said on Saturday "hundreds of armed drones" have been sold.

"For a while now, Iranian drones have been carrying out operations in Ukraine's skies against NATO," said the newspaper, whose head is appointed by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran's response to Ukraine

Iran is planning "proportional action" in response to Ukraine's decision to downgrade diplomatic ties over the reported supply of Iranian drones to Russia, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Saturday.

 Nasser Kanaani said Ukraine should "refrain from being influenced by third parties who seek to destroy relations between the two countries," a ministry statement said.

Kanaani said Ukraine's decision was "based on unconfirmed reports and resulted from a media hype by foreign parties."