Ukraine to deploy specialists to help Gulf states fight Iranian drone threat

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send military specialists to the Middle East to help counter Iranian drones and missiles, citing Kyiv’s extensive experience in dealing with such weapons during the war with Russia.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said he had instructed Ukraine’s foreign minister, defence minister, intelligence agencies and the secretary of the National Security and Defence Council to develop proposals for assisting countries in the region while ensuring Ukraine’s own defence capabilities are not weakened.

“In just a few days, Iran has launched over 800 missiles of various types and more than 1,400 attack drones. It is Iranian drones and missiles that pose the main threat to free navigation, destabilising global prices for oil, petroleum products, and gas,” he wrote.

Zelenskyy said he has been consulting with partners in Europe and the United States and has already spoken with leaders of several countries neighbouring Iran, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain, with talks also planned with Kuwait and other states in the region.

“All of them face a serious challenge and speak openly about it: Iranian attack drones are the same ‘shaheds’ that have been striking our cities, villages, and our Ukrainian infrastructure throughout this war,” he added.

The delta-winged Shahed 136 drones have long been used by Russian forces in their war against Ukraine and have become a major element of the conflict.

According to a report by US media, the relatively inexpensive drones — which cost about $50,000 to produce — are also becoming a growing challenge in the five-day war between the United States, Israel and Iran. The drones have struck regional allies of Washington, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as Tehran attempts to inflict damage on Gulf states that host American forces or maintain close ties with Washington.

US officials told lawmakers during a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill that the drones present a serious challenge to air defences because they fly low and slow, making them difficult to detect and intercept.

The attacks are also forcing US forces to expend large numbers of expensive air-defence munitions while the easily produced drones continue to threaten bases, ports and other critical infrastructure. A drone strike on Sunday in Kuwait killed six US service members.

Ukraine, which has been facing Shahed drone attacks since the fall of 2022, has developed significant expertise in countering them.

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian teams will operate directly in the region and that coordination efforts are already underway.

“We are ready to help protect lives, defend civilians, and support real efforts to stabilise the situation and, in particular, restore safe navigation in the region,” he said.

He also urged the European Union, European countries and the Group of Seven to take stronger action.

He called on them “to take active measures both in dismantling the Iranian regime’s terrorist capabilities and in protecting lives in the region and global stability.”

By Tamilla Hasanova