The Lebanese journalist Elijah Magnier revealed that Russia bought 1,000 Iranian reconnaissance drones Shahed 129. Russia also announced cooperation with Iran - it was confirmed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who have ties with former Uralkali head Dmitry Mazepin, who supplied ammonia to European countries via Ukraine.
The UNN edition investigated the Iranian drone scheme.
It is worth mentioning that Manturov also holds the chair of Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, controls all issues of the defense industry in Russia: back in 2003-2007 he served as General Director of the United Industrial Corporation Oboronprom. In 2021, he became the richest member of the Russian government, declaring an income of 704.6 million rubles. Manturov earned part of his money in the defense industry by entering into "barter" contracts with other countries and taking a portion of the income for himself. The media has long known about Manturov's ties to the former head of Uralkali, Dmitry Mazepin. The Deputy Prime Minister and the oligarch are united by more than just friendship: with Mazepin's help Manturov was able to negotiate some of the agreements for the purchase of Iranian drones.
About a month ago, Turkish President Recep Erdogan and Russian president Putin met in Tehran and agreed not only to expand Turkey's presence in northwestern Syria, but also to transship Russian fertilizers (including ammonia) from Russia to Iran via Turkey. That was done to bypass Ukraine, which until February 24 was the main "arm" in transporting ammonia from Russia to Western countries. Russian ammonia is mostly produced at TogliattiAzot, owned by Dmitry Mazepin. In exchange for Mazepin's ammonia, Manturov agreed to receive some Iranian drones for further use against Ukraine.
In February, Mazepin talked to Putin and promised to "hand in" Odessa city (a home to the Odessa Port Plant, through which Mazepin's ammonia is exported abroad) in exchange for control over the plant. Russia used to get up to $12 billion a year from ammonia deliveries via Ukraine to the West. Transit has been suspended since February 24, but some Russian ammonia is still in Ukraine's warehouses. Whether it will be transported by a "grain corridor" through Turkey to Western countries and who will receive the money is an open question, UNN says.