Downed Russian drone displayed in British parliament

Parliament will today host the first-ever UK display of an Iranian-made Shahed-136 attack drone, the weapon Russia has used extensively against Ukraine, during a press event attended by Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski.

The event, organised by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP with the support of Speaker of the House of Commons Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, will feature the unveiling of a downed Shahed-136 in Speaker’s Court. It marks the first time the drone has been publicly displayed in Europe.

Over 38,000 Iranian-made Shahed drones have been launched by Russia in 2025, including more than 5,000 in September alone, according to Ukrainian data. The weapons have targeted energy infrastructure and civilian areas, killing and injuring thousands.

In recent weeks, Russian drones have crossed into Polish airspace, prompting NATO to invoke Article 4 and triggering consultations on Alliance defence measures.

Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski will deliver keynote remarks alongside Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Tom Tugendhat, and Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, CEO of UANI and former US Ambassador to the UN. Journalists, including the UK Defence Journal, and, of course, MPs were invited to film and examine the recovered drone.

Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP, Senior Advisor to UANI and former Minister of State for Security, said: “This drone is a stark reminder that the Iranian regime’s partnership with Russia threatens European security beyond Ukraine, exemplified by Putin’s latest drone incursion into Poland, forcing NATO Article 4 consultations. Standing with Ukraine must mean not only responding to Putin but also his primary military backer, namely the Ayatollah in Iran. Without such a holistic approach, the Russia-Iran military partnership, centred on the Shahed-136 drone, will further undermine European security — not least here in the UK.”

Ambassador Mark D. Wallace added: “The Iranian regime’s Shahed drone is today’s Nazi Doodlebug — an indiscriminate flying weapon of terror designed to kill civilians and destroy critical infrastructure. By supplying these drones to Russia, Iran’s regime is enabling war not just on Ukraine, but on international security itself. The Shahed-136 is the true face of the Iranian regime. Bringing this weapon into Westminster is a call for solidarity with Ukraine and a reminder of the urgent need to confront Iran’s malign actions.”

The Shahed-136, often described as the modern successor to the World War II “Doodlebug” or “Buzz Bomb,” is a loitering munition that delivers explosive payloads with precision at long range.

The display follows similar high-profile exhibitions in the US Congress and at the United Nations, where UANI has sought to expose Iran’s growing involvement in global destabilisation through drone warfare.