Ukraine has deployed specialist teams to five Middle Eastern countries to help intercept drones and advise on air-defence measures, with officials saying they expect to conclude several significant agreements.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said teams had been sent to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, which have come under fire during the Iran war.
He said that local air defence units were dealing with ballistic missiles, while Ukrainian specialists were focused on the waves of Iran’s Shahed drones.
“I believe no one has experience comparable to ours,” Zelenskiy told journalists in audio messages on a WhatsApp chat, adding that 228 Ukrainian specialists were now in the region.
“We are working with the Middle East – with leaders, at the technical level, and with ministries of defence. In general, we are preparing serious arrangements and agreements,” he said.
His security council secretary Rustem Umerov has visited all five of those countries this week, and said earlier yesterday that further steps for “long-term security co-operation” had been outlined with each, without giving details.
Kyiv has said nearly a dozen countries have sought its help and advice in defending against cheap kamikaze drones, which Iran is using against its Gulf neighbours.
Russia has launched similar drones at Ukraine since its 2022 invasion, and Kyiv has developed its own advanced interceptor drone capabilities.
Although Gulf states operate sophisticated US-made air defence systems, the missiles they use are in short supply and they cost much more than Iran’s Shahed drones.
Moscow has bombarded Ukraine with nearly 60,000 Shaheds and similar systems.
It initially bought thousands of them from Iran, before establishing its own production facilities to make them under licence.
Ukraine has also launched drone attacks at Russia, although on a smaller scale.
Umerov said yesterday that drone interception units were initially protecting civilian and critical infrastructure, and work was under way to expand their coverage areas.
Zelenskiy has said Kyiv wanted money and technology in return for its help in the Middle East.
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