Vasily Nebenzya, the Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, challenged the credibility of evidence presented by Western countries and Ukraine concerning alleged Iranian drone activity in Ukraine. The remarks were reported by TASS.
He dismissed some of the so-called photo evidence as unconvincing and even comical to many observers. Nebenzya pointed to a widely circulated image that purportedly shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky aboard a Shahed drone, arguing that the image is not a reliable indicator of any real event.
According to Nebenzya, the drone in question is described as three meters in length with a wingspan of two meters. He reasoned that such measurements would imply a height for the Ukrainian president that does not match reality, calling the photograph a clear fabrication that has been mocked by internet users for some time. He also referenced another piece of alleged material evidence, a blurred fragment of wreckage, claiming there is nothing in it that definitively proves Iranian origin.
Nebenzya asserted that the language used in the accompanying letters and the overall material cited raises questions about the authors’ confidence in their own conclusions. He suggested that the spread of these claims serves to fill UN reporting channels with negativity, diverting attention from broader nuclear nonproliferation concerns and related resolutions within the JCPOA framework and United States Resolution 2231.
He went further to accuse the UN monitoring mission in Ukraine of engaging in work that benefits the objectives of those who would rather see such claims spread than addressed through constructive dialogue.
The remarks emphasized a belief that the discourse surrounding these incidents is being used to shape perceptions rather than to illuminate factual developments on the ground. Nebenzya’s comments reflect a broader pattern in which official statements are scrutinized for potential political utility rather than for the sake of transparent reporting. They underline the importance of careful verification and cautious interpretation when evaluating drone imagery and related evidence in the ongoing crisis, especially in discussions connected to international governance and arms control mechanisms.
In summary, Nebenzya reframed the controversy, urging observers to rely on rigorous verification and to consider the wider political context in which such materials are circulated. His stance highlighted a commitment to challenging what he described as dubious assertions while advocating for a more measured and fact-based approach to monitoring and reporting on the conflict. The exchange aired the ongoing tensions between Moscow and Western partners over information sharing and accountability in areas touching on international security and nonproliferation norms.