UK MoD: Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 13 June 2023.

In recent months, Russia has highly likely worked to ensure its long-term, high-volume supply of one-way-attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA-UAVs). By supplying these weapons, Iran continues to breach UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

Russia has likely moved from receiving small deliveries of Iranian OWA-UAVs by air transport, to larger consignments by ship from Iran via the Caspian Sea.

This ‘International North-South Transit Corridor’ has assumed much more importance since the invasion. It allows Russia to access Asian markets - including arms transfers - in ways it hopes are less vulnerable to international sanctions.

Russia is also working to start domestic production of OWA-UAVs, almost certainly with Iranian assistance.

Russia is highly likely investing in OWA-UAVs because it provides Russia with a relatively cheap long-range strike capability at a time when it has expended a large proportion of its cruise missile stocks in Ukraine.