According to British intelligence, large quantities of Iranian drones are being delivered to Russia. “They’re also called ‘stray munitions’, they work like a kind of helicopter that doesn’t move,” says Hammelburg. “Those things wait a long time to find a goal and then deliver on it. Russia has ordered a lot of them and they have already been delivered.’
Follow the latest news about the war in Ukraine in our live blog
North Korea is also a major arms supplier to the Russians, Hammelburg explains. A railway line between North Korea and Russia, which has been out of service for some years, has been reopened to deliver missiles and other munitions. When the railway was opened, the very first transport went from Russia to North Korea, namely with 30 racehorses as a gift for Kim Jong-un.’
Nuclear power plant
The Russians have set up a missile installation near Zaporizhia. The city is also home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which, according to Hammelburg, is also vulnerable because it has already been hit several times. This means that the Russians are making Ukraine’s attacks in that area extremely difficult. This is strategically important, but also practical, because they connected that nuclear power plant to Crimea’s energy supply. So they have a vested interest in making sure that thing stays safe.”