Russian forces are increasingly relying on Iranian-made drones to strike Ukraine's critical infrastructure and are likely to have significantly depleted their current stockpile of these systems.. Therefore, Russia is likely to seek further bilateral cooperation with Iran.. This is stated in the report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) for January 4.

ISW analysts took into account the information of the representative of the Main Directorate of Military Intelligence (GUR) of Ukraine Vadym Skibitsky that the Russians have used about 660 Iranian drones in Ukraine since September. They have increased the rate of attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure over the past month with their help.. Skibitsky also said that the Russians are using massive swarms of Shahed drones to break through Ukrainian air defenses, and noted that they will not be able to achieve this if they use five to ten drones.. That's why they make massive attacks.

“Russian forces have likely become dependent on the use of Iranian-made drones as a cheap alternative to more conventional precision-guided missiles, of which the Russian military has likely run out of stock,” the ISW report says.. “Russia will likely seek further bilateral cooperation with Iran to secure more precision-guided weapons systems for use in Ukraine.”.

They will use all of the 1,750 drones promised by Iran until May 2023, if they strike at the same pace as they have until now.. Therefore, Russia, ISW experts suggest, will try to secure further agreements with Iran to obtain a precision-guided weapon system..

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Recall that in the fall it was reported that Iran also plans to transfer ballistic missiles to Russia for strikes against Ukraine.. Then US State Department spokesman Ned Price that the United States would oppose such cooperation by imposing tough sanctions and other deterrents on Iran.