U.S. says Iranians in Crimea helping Russia use drones against Ukraine

People shop in a supermarket as Kharkiv suffers an electricity outage, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, October 17, 2022. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

KYIV (Reuters) - Washington said on Thursday it believed Iranian military staff had been deployed in Crimea to provide assistance to Russian forces using Iranian-made drones to attack Ukraine, as the West slapped sanctions on Tehran in response.

The drones have been used to destroy Ukrainian power plants and other utilities in strikes that appear designed to disrupt and demoralise as winter approaches. Ukrainian citizens endured the first scheduled power outages since the war began on Thursday as authorities sought to begin repairs.