Iran has significantly reduced its support for Russia, raising doubts about the “allied relations.”

Relations between Russia and Iran: Reduction of Support

Since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, Iran has reduced its assistance to Russia. In an interview with News-LIVE on September 6, 2025, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Andriy Yusov, reported on problems in the relations between the two countries.

Reduction of Iran’s Support

According to Yusov, deliveries from Tehran have noticeably decreased compared to previous years. The main factors contributing to this decision were Iran’s internal difficulties and the complex situation in the Middle East.

Iran traditionally supplied Russia with strike drones, but Russia is establishing its own drone production and is now less dependent on external supplies. It should be noted that Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets have also caused a fuel shortage in the country, negatively affecting military operations.

Yusov pointed out that information about the number of Russian losses is available in open sources, making the situation more transparent and not requiring hidden analysis.

DPRK as a New Ally

While Iran has reduced its support, the DPRK has increased its role as a supplier of military aid. According to the GUR, North Korea now provides Russia with more than 40% of artillery ammunition. This creates significant problems for Ukraine, as shells and ammunition play a key role in the current conflict.

According to Yusov, shells from the DPRK allow the Russian army to maintain a high level of intensity in shelling Ukrainian positions. He highlighted that if this factor were to disappear, the enemy’s fire support could significantly decrease.

Expert Opinion on Russia’s Dependence

In an interview with Glavred, the head of the Center for Public Analytics “Tower,” Valeriy Klochok, noted the limited subjectivity of Russia in international affairs. He believes that Russia is not perceived as an equal participant in major negotiations.

“It is not a full-fledged subject of the negotiation process, and economic problems concern almost no one,” Klochok added.

Iran and Russia: Background of the War

The uncertainty of the current relations between Moscow and Tehran exacerbates the conflict in Ukraine. Russia’s influence in the Middle East has noticeably weakened, raising questions about its future role in the region.

Some experts, such as Mykhailo Honchar, have suggested that Russia may have reasons to leave Iran if certain goals in Ukraine are achieved. This underscores the complex and contradictory relations existing between the allies.

It was also reported that Iran might stop supplying drones, such as the “Shahed,” due to recent events in Yelabuga, further questioning the military cooperation between the countries.