Russia is reportedly planning to use a new Iranian satellite to spy on Ukraine’s army and improve intelligence gathering, indicating the two countries’ growing military cooperation.
It comes as Ukrainian officials announced on Saturday that Moscow had received Iranian armed drones, which could have a “dramatic” impact on the war.
Russian engineers are preparing to launch the Khayyam satellite into space from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur launch facility on August 9, the culmination of a four-year project.
The Iranian government claims the satellite, built by Russia’s Roscosmos space agency, will be used to monitor water use and agriculture.
Advanced cameras are installed
However, the spacecraft is outfitted with advanced, high-resolution cameras, and Russia intends to use the satellite for a few months first, according to the Washington Post.
It is rumored that it intends to use it to spy on Ukraine’s military before handing over control of the spacecraft to Iran.
The prospect of Russia and Iran using a satellite to spy on enemies has sparked concern in the West, potentially jeopardizing the revival of a 2015 Iran nuclear deal that fell apart under former US President Donald Trump. The talks resumed in Vienna on Friday.
The Kremlin is forming an alliance to support its war in Ukraine by incorporating Tehran into its arms-supply network. That assistance is already bearing fruit.
According to Aleksey Arestovich, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Iran has already sent 46 drones to Russia. “According to some reports, it seems that their use has already been noted,” he said.
Iran has emerged as a major producer of armed drones. Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin flew to Tehran to meet with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a trilateral meeting.
Officials said ahead of the meeting that Mr. Putin would request Iranian support for his war and drone supplies.
According to Western intelligence, Russia lost a large number of drones in the first few weeks of the war. It also stated that the majority of Russia’s Orlan drones are intended for reconnaissance rather than attack missions. Drones have played a significant role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
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