Iran sold Russia missiles worth about $2.7 billion, supporting Putin’s war in Ukraine. Overall, Russia has spent more than $4 billion on Iranian military equipment since the end of 2021, Bloomberg reports.
Since October 2021, Iran has signed contracts with Russia to supply short-range ballistic missiles and surface-to-air missiles worth approximately $2.7 billion, according to a Western security official who requested anonymity. These shipments included hundreds of Fath‑360 missiles, nearly 500 other short-range ballistic missiles, and about 200 surface-to-air missiles.
Overall, estimates suggest that since late 2021, Russia has spent over $4 billion on Iranian military equipment, including the supply of Shahed drones and other equipment. This does not yet reflect the full volume of deliveries, as additional contracts and equipment are still expected.
Shahed drones and Russian strikes
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow and Tehran grew closer. Iran also provided Russia with Shahed‑136 “kamikaze” drones and technology to produce them in Russia under the name Geran‑2, as part of a $1.75 billion contract signed in early 2023.
From January to October 2025, Russian forces launched more than 44,000 Shahed-type attack drones or their modifications across Ukraine, a number more than four times higher than the total launches in 2024.
Impact on civilian infrastructure
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, Russian Shahed drone attacks have killed 253 people and injured 1,524. Russia uses these drones to strike civilian infrastructure, causing significant material damage — destroying and damaging buildings and other objects protected under international humanitarian law.
Shahed drone attacks have also caused major damage to Ukraine’s energy sector, hitting thermal power plants (TPPs), substations, and power lines, leading to emergency blackouts, city-wide power outages, and forcing critical infrastructure to operate on backup sources.
Conclusion
Iran’s supply of missiles and drones has significantly enhanced Russia’s military capabilities in the war against Ukraine. While some of the deliveries have not yet been used, Shahed drones have already caused hundreds of casualties and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities.
The total value of Iranian deliveries, exceeding $4 billion, highlights the seriousness of the strategic partnership between Moscow and Tehran and its influence on the duration and intensity of the conflict.
