The wars in Ukraine and Iran crossed paths this week when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Iranian involvement in the Russian invasion, pointing to Shahed drone technology currently being used by invading forces.
Speaking during an interview with Sky News, Zelensky made the accusation and cautiously suggested that the link between Russia, Iran, and North Korea in the Ukraine conflict should be considered.
Iran’s Drones That Russia Is Using. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
What Zelenskyy Said
When answering a question about whether Kyiv is concerned about a potential threat from Iran following Ukrainian strikes on vessels in the Caspian Sea linked to Iran, Zelensky described how the Islamic regime has been supporting the Russian invasion.
“What do you think if Iran transferred new technologies to Russia from the first year of the war? These were Shahed drones; they transferred thousands of these drones in the first year of the war. Then they issued licenses. What did they do? Did they attack us? I think so,” Zelensky said.
The comments were a response to Iran’s accusation that Ukraine had attacked one of its vessels and insisted that it has “never interfered in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.”
Iran’s missile capabilities. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Zelensky rejected the premise, however, arguing that Iran’s transfer of thousands of Shahed drones and assistance with production technology amounts to direct participation in the conflict.
The Ukrainian president referenced how, since late 2022, Russia has relied extensively on Iranian-designed Shahed drones to conduct long-range attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure and cities, while also establishing domestic production of the aircraft – and a number of upgraded “Geran” versions – under license from Iran.
Are Iran and North Korea Directly Connected to Russia’s Invasion?
Zelensky also expressed concern that North Korea and Iran are both connected to Russia’s invasion.
He said that Ukraine must avoid allowing the conflict to expand to include Russia’s partners, but acknowledged the role that the two countries have played.
“We have to be careful, we have to do our best, not to open a new front in any way, but we have to be honest – the Iranians and North Koreans have already attacked us,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that Ukraine must be “prepared for anything and know that we can’t trust these people.”
The Ukrainian president acknowledged military support provided to Russia by the North Koreans in the form of weapons, drones, and 155 mm artillery shells.
North Korea’s contribution to Russia’s war effort has expanded significantly over the past two years, supplying millions of artillery rounds and ballistic missiles as well as deploying troops in support of Russian operations.
U.S., South Korean, and Ukrainian intelligence agencies have concluded that North Korea sent approximately 15,000 soldiers to fight for Russia, starting in late 2024.
The deployments were eventually acknowledged by Pyongyang and Moscow following months of official denials, with North Korean forces participating in efforts to reclaim the Kursk region of Ukraine.
On July 27, reports also described how North Korea is planning its largest ever foreign deployment, with plans to send as many as 30,000 more troops to Russia.
In November 2025, South Korean intelligence also claimed that the Korean People’s Army had stationed almost 10,000 personnel near the Russian-Ukrainian border for guard duties, with a further 1,000 combat engineers providing mine clearance support.
What Happened in the Caspian Sea
Zelensky’s comments about Iran’s involvement in the invasion of Ukraine follow one of Kyiv’s most ambitious long-range operations of the conflict.
On July 25, Ukrainian forces struck multiple targets in the Caspian Sea, and in a statement following a meeting with Ukraine’s military leadership, Zelenskyy confirmed that his forces had targeted a Russian warship and other vessels that were “used in military cargo shipments involving Iran.”
Tehran described a different version of events, however, saying that one of the vessels struck was an Iranian commercial ship.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry described the strike as a “hostile and criminal” attack and summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran, insisting that Tehran has never interfered in the Russian war in Ukraine.
Tehran also accused Ukraine of attempting to expand the conflict.
A day later, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the strike “cannot go unanswered” following discussions about the incident with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Araghchi argued that Iran would seek to “put an end to such adventures by the Kyiv regime” in what could easily be interpreted as a direct threat.
Ukraine, however, insists that the operation targeted a key military supply route rather than civilian shipping.
The Caspian Sea has become a crucial logistics corridor that links Iran and Russia, allowing military equipment to move between the two countries.
By extending its long-range campaign into the Caspian Sea, Kyiv is not only targeting Russian forces but the international supply network that is helping sustain the Moscow invasion – and this may not be the last such strike that irks the regime in Tehran.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, producing and editing analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
