(Reuters) -Britain, France and Germany on Friday called for a United Nations probe of accusations Russia has used Iranian-origin drones to attack Ukraine, allegedly violating a U.N. Security Council Resolution.
In a letter signed by their U.N. envoys and seen by Reuters, the three backed Ukraine’s call on Monday for such a probe, arguing the drone use breached U.N. Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231 endorsing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Ukraine says Russia has used Iranian-made Shahed-136 attack drones – munitions that cruise toward their target before plummeting at velocity and detonating on impact.
Tehran denies supplying the drones to Moscow and Russia has denied its forces used Iranian drones to attack Ukraine.
“We would welcome an investigation by the UN Secretariat team responsible for monitoring the implementation of UNSCR 2231 and stand ready to support the work of the Secretariat in conducting its technical and impartial investigation,” the three nations, a group known as the E3, said in the letter.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reports twice a year to the Security Council – traditionally in June and December – on the implementation of the 2015 resolution. Any assessment of the drones in Ukraine would likely be included in that report.
(Reporting By Michelle Nichols; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Mark Porter and Bill Berkrot)
