Ukraine Asks For Information On Russia-Iran Weapons Trade Logistics

Ukraine is seeking logistic information regarding the Moscow-Tehran weapons trade, while Israel is softening its opposition to providing military aid to Kyiv.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry issued a public notice on its website Wednesday requesting information on logistical routes used to facilitate weapons trade between Russia and the Islamic Republic, including delivery points, warehouses railway stations, military officers and other infrastructure. 

“We remind you that all persons involved in the supply of Iranian weapons for use in the war against Ukraine violate international law and become complicit in crimes committed by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine,” the ministry stated. 

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported on Friday that Israel is apparently changing it long-maintained policy of strategic neutrality regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine after months of reluctance, implying that it may start selling weapons, including air defense systems, to Ukraine.

According to the report, a turning point came late last month, when Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz took a long-requested call from his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov, in which Israel committed to help Ukraine develop an early-warning system, similar to one that alerts Israelis to incoming fire from the Gaza Strip.

Israel has also begun to share its intelligence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said late in October, welcoming what he called a “positive” trend. 

The cooperation, however, is harshly criticized by Russian officials, such as former President Dmitry Medvedev who warned Israel in October against sending weaponry to Ukraine, saying it would destroy all diplomatic relations between Jerusalem and Moscow.