Ukraine has deployed more than 200 military specialists to the Middle East to assist in defending against Iranian drone attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced.
Speaking at the UK Parliament in London on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said that 201 Ukrainian anti-drone experts are already stationed in the region, with an additional 34 personnel prepared to join them soon.
“Our teams know how to build effective defense systems against Shahed drones,” he said, referring to the Iranian-designed kamikaze drones widely used by Russia since the start of the Russia-Ukraine War.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian teams are currently operating in several Gulf countries, including United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, while another team is en route to Kuwait.
He emphasized that Ukraine is already cooperating with multiple nations in the region under existing agreements, adding, “We do not want Iranian state-sponsored terror to succeed against its neighbors.”
The Ukrainian president also reiterated claims that Iran has supplied Shahed-136 drones to Russia, along with training and production technology. He further alleged that Russia has upgraded these drones, and that evidence now suggests some Iranian drones used in the Middle East contain Russian components.
During his visit, Zelenskyy also held meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, discussing ongoing security cooperation and the growing threat posed by drone warfare.
