Fact Check: "In June 2023 alone, Russia launched 2,736 Shahed drones."
What We Know
In June 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia launched 2,736 Shahed drones during that month. This information was shared during his address to the Dutch parliament, where he also mentioned that the total number of Shahed drones used by Russia since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, had reached 28,743 (source-2, source-3). The Shahed drones, specifically the Shahed 136, are Iranian-designed loitering munitions that have been extensively used by Russian forces in their military operations against Ukraine (source-1).
Analysis
The claim regarding the launch of 2,736 Shahed drones in June 2023 is supported by multiple credible sources, including direct statements from President Zelenskyy (source-2, source-4). These reports consistently cite Zelenskyy's address, which adds a layer of reliability to the claim as it comes from an official government source.
The sources reporting this information, such as Ukrainska Pravda and NV, are reputable news outlets that focus on Ukrainian affairs and have a history of accurate reporting on the ongoing conflict. However, it is essential to note that while these reports are credible, they are also influenced by the Ukrainian government's perspective, which may emphasize the severity of the situation.
The use of Shahed drones by Russia has been well-documented, with reports indicating their significant role in attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure (source-5). The drone's design and capabilities have been analyzed in various military assessments, confirming their effectiveness and the scale of their deployment (source-1).
Conclusion
The claim that "In June 2023 alone, Russia launched 2,736 Shahed drones" is True. This assertion is backed by multiple credible sources, including direct statements from Ukrainian officials and corroborated by reputable news outlets. The consistency of the reports and the reliability of the sources lend significant weight to the accuracy of this claim.
Sources
- HESA Shahed 136 - Wikipedia
- Zelenskyy: Russia has launched 28,743 Shahed drones on Ukraine since ... - Ukrainska Pravda
- Iran enabled Russia to lob 28,743 Shahed drones at Ukraine since 2022 - NV
- Zelenskyy reveals how many Shahed drones Russia has launched against ... - RBC Ukraine
- Zelensky Reveals Russia's Massive Drone Attacks and Calls for ... - Mezha
- Russia Launches 28,743 Shahed Drones Since War Start, 2,736 in June ... - Deep Newz
- Russian attacks kill dozens of Ukrainians as Kyiv's allies gather for a ... - CNN
- Zelenskyy announces how many Shaheds Russia has ... - Censor.net
