Zelensky suggests Russia paying for Iranian drones with nuclear aid
October 25, 2022, 11:00 am

Zelensky suggests Russia paying for Iranian drones with nuclear aid

File photo. President Volodymyr Zelensky official Twitter account @ZelenskyyUa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday (Oct 24) he believes Russia may be paying for the drones it is receiving from Iran by providing assistance to Iran's illegal nuclear programme.

Addressing a conference organized by Israel's Haaretz newspaper by video link, Zelensky repeated his request for Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile technology.

Ukraine's army was beating the Russians on the battlefield, "but, unfortunately, we do not have our own Iron Dome. We still do not have a modern and effective air defence and missile defence system that could secure our skies," he said.

After exhausting its own missile stocks, Russia had gone looking for weapons from other countries, Zelensky said.

"It found them in Iran. I have a question for you: How does Russia pay Iran for this in your opinion? Is Iran just interested in money? Probably not money at all, but Russian assistance to the Iranian nuclear programme," he said.

Kherson oblast - Russian tanks Photo posted by Ukr.net via Euromaidan Press

Moscow and Tehran have denied any weapons deal, but there is evidence that the hundreds of drones Russia has sent over Ukraine recently are either of Iranian origin or Iranian design.

Zelensky added that Iranians were also training the Russians in the use of the drones.

Zelensky: Moscow's use Of Iran drones shows military 'bankruptcy'

He said this alliance would not have come about, if Israel had decided in 2014 to provide Ukraine with weapons after Russian forces seized the Crimean Peninsula that year and launched an attack on the Donbass region of Eastern Ukraine.

Since the Russian invasion, Israel has offered humanitarian assistance to Ukraine but held back from providing military equipment for fear of harming relations with Russia, which is home to many Jews and is heavily engaged in the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad.

levantnews-anews

Rishi Sunak to meet King Charles before entering No 10 Kanye West's racist, anti-Semitic rants put Adidas in hot seat to cut ties

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”