Russia's Dependence on Iranian Drones Plummets to 10%
"Handed Over Iranian Air Defense Secrets to Israel"
Russia Prioritizes Ties with Israel
"Key to Mediating U.S.-Russia Relations"
Russia has significantly reduced its imports of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and is moving closer to Israel, Iran's long-standing adversary, drawing attention to the reasons behind this shift. Experts analyze that, now that Russia possesses the capability to produce drones domestically, it considers its relationship with Israel-potentially serving as a bridge in Russia-U.S. relations-more important than strengthening ties with Iran.
Russia's Dependence on Iranian Drones Drops to 10%..."Handed Over Iranian Air Defense Secrets to Israel"
The Alabuga drone production facility built in 2023 by Russia with technical support from Iran. Russian Ministry of Defense
When the war in Ukraine began in 2022, Russia imported all of its drones from Iran. At the start of the war, Russia suffered heavy losses, but managed to fend off Ukrainian counterattacks through bombings using Iranian drones. However, the situation has changed completely. Russia's dependence on Iranian drones has dropped to about 10%. Now, 90% of drones are produced within Russia.
This shift was largely driven by a $1.75 billion (about 2.44 trillion won) drone import and technology transfer agreement signed with Iran in January 2023, which enabled Russia to build a large-scale drone production facility in the Alabuga region. Currently, this plant produces more than 6,000 drones each month. CNN reported, "Russia, which had relied on Iranian Shahed drones, has now received the technology, upgraded it, and is exporting drones to other countries such as North Korea. In the future, Russia may even re-export drones to Iran."
As drone transactions decreased, the relationship between Russia and Iran has also grown distant. On August 25 (local time), Mohammad Sadr, a member of Iran's National Coordination Committee (TEC), told reporters, "Russia has provided Israel with information related to Iranian air defense facilities," and added, "The clashes with Israel have proven that a strategic alliance with Russia is meaningless."
Within Iran, criticism has mounted over Russia's lack of military support during the 12-day conflict with Israel from June 13 to June 25, with many accusing Russia of betraying Iran. In January of this year, Russia and Iran signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty. Although the title of the treaty is the same as the one signed between North Korea and Russia, the agreement with Iran does not include provisions for mutual military support.
Ali Akbar Dareini, an analyst at the Tehran Strategic Research Institute in Iran, told CNN, "Apart from issuing statements condemning attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States, Russia has provided no assistance." He added, "Iran believes that even if direct military intervention was difficult for Russia, it could have supported military operations by transporting weapons, providing technical support, or sharing intelligence."
Russia Prioritizes Relations with Israel..."Key to Mediating U.S.-Russia Relations"
Russia is drawing closer to Israel, which has a hostile relationship with Iran. Kan 11, Israel's state broadcaster, reported, "The Israeli government is maintaining high-level contact with Russia to seek diplomatic solutions to issues involving Iran and Syria," adding, "Since the ceasefire with Iran began at the end of June, closed-door talks have been underway."
It is also believed that Russia's delay in delivering Su-35 fighter jets, which it exported to Iran, is due to its relationship with Israel. The Associated Press pointed out, "Israel has continued to abstain from imposing sanctions against Russia since the start of the Ukraine war, and in return, Russia has delayed the delivery of Su-35 fighter jets to Iran and refused to sell the latest S-400 air defense systems."
Since the Cold War era, Russia and Israel have not had an official alliance but have maintained friendly relations in the Middle East. When Israel declared independence in 1948, it received support from the Soviet Union, and many Russian Jews participated in the nation's founding. Today, Russian Jews make up about 15% of Israel's total population.
Some analysts suggest that the friendly relationship between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump could also be a reason for Russia's efforts to strengthen ties with Israel.
Ksenia Svetlova, an associate fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA) in the United Kingdom, predicted, "With the second Trump administration now in place, security cooperation between Russia and Israel is likely to grow even stronger." She added, "From Russia's perspective, Israel's role as a mediator is crucial for restoring relations with the United States and the West. For Israel, military cooperation with Russia may help fill the security vacuum created by the U.S. exit strategy from the Middle East."
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