Kyiv (TDI): More than 200 Ukrainian military specialists have been deployed across the Gulf and wider Middle East, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, to help counter incoming Iranian drones,
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that teams of experienced anti-drone personnel are already operating in these countries, with additional experts expected to arrive in Kuwait.
“These are military experts… who know how to defend against Shahed drones,” Zelenskyy said, referring to the Iranian-designed loitering munitions that have been widely used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Ukraine’s growing role in the Gulf comes as Iranian Shahed drones, designed for relatively low-cost, high-impact strikes, have been used to target infrastructure and military sites, raising alarm among Gulf states and Western allies.
Ukrainian forces claim to have developed highly effective countermeasures, including interceptor drones and integrated tracking systems, achieving high interception rates against Russian-launched drones.
Read More: Ukraine’s Drone Offensive: A Pivotal Turning Point
Zelenskyy also highlighted the deepening military ties between Iran and Russia, alleging that Moscow not only received Shahed drones from Tehran but has since upgraded them and incorporated Russian components.
This cooperation, he warned, has global implications, “What is happening around Iran today is not a faraway war for us,” he said, calling the two countries “brothers in hatred.”
The deployment underscores how drone warfare is reshaping modern conflicts, with Ukraine positioning itself as a leading exporter of battlefield-tested knowledge. Ukrainian officials say the country can produce thousands of interceptor drones daily, offering both technology and expertise to allies facing similar threats.
While Ukraine is offering assistance, Zelenskyy has emphasized that Kyiv is not directly participating in military operations against Iran, instead framed the effort as defensive cooperation.
By exporting its anti-drone capabilities, Ukraine is not only strengthening alliances but also redefining its role on the global security stage, as drone warfare becomes a defining feature of 21st-century conflict.
