Ukraine war latest: US warns of 'dramatic' Iranian escalation after 'Tehran's missiles arrive in Russia' (2024)

More from the directors of the CIA and MI6, who were speaking at the FT weekend festival earlier today.

Our security and defence editor Deborah Hayneswas there for us - and noted one particularly interesting part of the discussion between Sir Richard Moore and Bill Burns...

Vladimir Putin was branded both "co*cky" and "smug" by the CIA director during a joint security conference with the head of MI6 run by the Financial Times.

You can watch Bill Burns and Sir Richard Moore discuss the Russian president here...

Ukraine's foreign ministry has expressed concern over reports that Iranian short-range ballistic missiles have been transferred to Russia.

In a statement sent to journalists, the ministry said the deepening military co-operation between Tehran and Moscow was a threat to Ukraine, Europe and the Middle East.

It also called on the international community to increase pressure on the two countries.

CNN and the Wall Street Journal both reported yesterday that Iran had already transferred missiles to Russia, citing unidentified sources, although how many was not yet clear.

However, Reutersreportingfrom August suggested that Russia was expecting "hundreds" of the Fath-360 close-range ballistic missiles - and that Russian military personnel were being trained inside Iran on how to use them.

Earlier this morning, we reported that the US would view this move as dramatically escalatory (see 8.12am post).

You can also read about what Iran gets out of its dealings with Russia in our 10.30am post.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday Ukraine now controls more than 1,300sq km in the Kursk region.

The Ukrainian president also suggested that the invasion hasresulted in about 6,000 casualties among Russian forces so far.

But how has that impacted the war inside Ukraine?

Analysts have suggested that Russia has moved some troops from the frontlines, but has not committed the crack forces required to throw Ukraine off its soil thus far.

Ukraine's top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi told CNN that the operation in the Kursk region was working and that there had been no Russian advances on a key sector of the eastern front inside Ukraine for six days.

"Over the last six days, the enemy hasn't advanced a single metre in the Pokrovsk direction. In other words, our strategy is
working," he said.

Mr Syrskyi said the military had also noted a decrease in shelling and the intensity of the Russian offensive in other sectors.

'Significant tactical achievement'

Speaking at a joint security conference with the head of MI6, CIA chief Bill Burns said the invasion marks a "significant tactical achievement".

However, MI6 boss Richard Moore said it was too soon to say how soon Kyiv could hold the territory.

The national picture...

When it comes to the national picture, Russia is pressing on with its goal to take over the east of the country.

They are slowly inching forward towards the city of Pokrovsk - just northwest of Donetsk - which provides critical rail and supply links for the Ukrainian army.

Losing the city could put additional Ukrainian cities at risk.

This morning, Russia's defence ministry claimed Moscow's troops have claimed the village of Kalynove -just lies southeast of Pokrovsk.

These images show members of Kyiv's air defence team searching for incoming Russian drones with searchlights - and destroying them.

Ukraine shot down 58 out of 67 Russian-launched drones overnight, the country's air force said.

A bit more from the business and economics conference taking place in northern Italy this morning (see 10.58am post).

Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni has promised her unwavering support for Ukraine in its efforts against Russia.

"The choice of supporting Ukraine has been first and foremost a choice of national interest, and it's a choice that won't change," she said.

She also suggested Russian partners in Beijing and New Delhi should help negotiate an end to the conflict.

"I believe China and India have a role to play to resolve the conflict. The only thing that cannot happen is to think that the conflict can be solved by abandoning Ukraine."

She made the comments shortly after meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyy for private talks.

Pennsylvania, Arizona and Texas are among American states benefitting most from funding and investment to arm Ukraine, according to the Pentagon.

The US has spent billions - and more than any other partner - on funding Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022.

A breakdown of spending released by the government showed Arizona saw $2.02bn of spending and investments related to Ukraine, while Texas had $1.85bn.

Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state in the upcoming presidential election, received the most of any state with $2.52bn.

The Biden administration has been stressing since last year that many of the weapons sent to Kyiv would be replaced through billions worth of new contracts won by US companies that employ American workers.

Despite this, Republicans have been calling for foreign aid to places including Ukraine to stop and for funding to be directed internally before being sent abroad.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in northern Italy today for talks with Georgia Meloni.

Yesterday, the Ukrainian president addressed attendees of the three-day Cernobbio TEHA Forum and pleaded with Western leaders to give him long-range weapons for against airfields inside Russian territory.

"Just to use this weapon, which can work with 100 and 300km. That's all. That's all, no other ideas," he said.

On this second day of the conference, he's set for private talks with the Italian prime minister.

Despite concerns before the election that she would not support Kyiv, Ms Meloni has strongly backed Ukraine and pledged to continue doing so.

Mr Zelenskyy may also meet other world leaders at the the annual tech and business conference on the shores of Lake Como - with French, Saudi Arabian and Hungarian diplomats and leaders among the other attendees.

A short time ago, we reported on US claims that Iran was risking "dramatic escalation" by its alleged transfer of short-range ballistic weapons to the Kremlin (see 8.12am post).

Despite strong ties pre-dating the conflict, Russian-Iranian relations have deepened since the start of the Ukraine war - with Tehran sending thousands of drones to Moscow for use against Kyiv.

But what does Iran get out of this partnership?

The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests Tehran benefits both militarily and financially from its dealings with Moscow.

"Iran has sought cash for its ailing economy in return for selling weapons to the Kremlin," it says - amply provided by Moscow given Vladimir Putin has shifted Russian financial systems and legislation towards a war economy.

And - like Russia - Iran has suffered from years of US and allied sanctions, so cash from its ally is gladly received.

Tehran also seeks to procure Russian Su-35 fighter jets, the ISW says.

"The acquisition of Su-35s could enable Iran to more readily and independently project air power, given that the current Iranian air fleet is outdated and poorly maintained," ISW says.

Not only that, but ISW adds "Iranian leaders have separately sought Russian support in upgrading their cyber capabilities and missile and space programs as part of the expanding military collaboration".

One thing the ISW does not comment on, however, is the political angle.

Iran has many, many enemies.

Those range from as nearby as Israel, and as far away as Washington. Some Arab countries, includingSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are also united against Tehran.

Allies are fewer and further between - so having one of the size, power and strength of Russia is key for Iran.

This isn't a new partnership - since the fall of the Soviet Union, Moscow and Tehran have enjoyed close ties - but it's undoubtedly accelerated in recent years.

For example in 2007, Iran became the only country in Western Asia to be invited to join the Collective Security Treaty Organisation - the Russian-led answer to NATO.

Relations have deepened further since Russia's diplomatic (and economic) isolation following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 - with Iran's strong military production base offering Moscow thousands of "Shahed" drones.

If reports are accurate, and Russia has now received short-range ballistic missiles from Iran, it underlines just how far this relationship has come.

Russia's defence ministry claims Moscow's troops have claimed the village of Kalynove.

The village lies in the Donetsk region - one of the main focuses of Russia's military efforts in recent months.

Ukraine has not commented on the claims.

Kalynove lies southeast of Pokrovsk, a major Ukrainianlogistics hub threatened by an accelerating Russian advance ineast Ukraine's industrialised Donbas.