Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed that more than 200 Ukrainian military specialists have been deployed to the Gulf region and parts of the Middle East to help allied nations defend against drone attacks linked to Iran. According to the Ukrainian leader, the move is part of a broader international security cooperation aimed at countering the growing use of Iranian-designed unmanned aerial vehicles in regional conflicts.
Speaking during an address to members of the United Kingdom Parliament in London on Tuesday, Zelenskyy stated that 201 Ukrainian anti-drone experts are already stationed in the region, while an additional 34 specialists are on standby and ready for deployment if required.
He explained that these personnel are trained professionals with battlefield experience in counter-drone warfare, particularly against the Shahed-type drones that have been widely used in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“These are military experts who know exactly how to defend against Shahed drones and similar aerial threats,” Zelenskyy said during his speech.
Ukrainian Teams Operating Across Gulf Countries
Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian defence teams are currently working with several Middle Eastern partners. He mentioned that Ukrainian specialists are already present in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and are also heading toward Kuwait as part of ongoing defence cooperation agreements.
According to the Ukrainian president, discussions with other countries are also underway, and several security arrangements have already been finalized.
He stressed that Ukraine does not want the spread of drone attacks linked to Iran to destabilize neighbouring countries in the region.
“We are working with several partners, and agreements are already in place. We do not want the terror carried out by the Iranian regime against its neighbours to succeed,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian leader had previously announced that military support teams had also been sent to Jordan and other Gulf states to assist in strengthening air-defence systems against drone threats.
Claims of Russia–Iran Military Cooperation
During his speech, Zelenskyy repeated earlier claims that Russia received Shahed-136 drones from Iran, which were later modified and upgraded for use in the war against Ukraine that began in 2022.
He alleged that Iran not only supplied the drones but also provided technical knowledge that allowed Russia to produce similar weapons domestically.
“Russia learned how to launch these drones from Iran and received the technology to manufacture them. Later, the drones were upgraded, and now we have evidence that the ones used in the Middle East contain Russian components,” he said.
Zelenskyy described the drones as weapons designed to cause low-cost destruction of expensive infrastructure, making them highly effective in modern warfare.
Because of the cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, he said the situation in the Middle East cannot be seen as distant from the conflict in Ukraine.
“The regimes in Russia and Iran are brothers in hatred, and that is why they are brothers in weapons,” he said, adding that such alliances should not be allowed to succeed.
Ukraine Expands Drone Warfare Capabilities
The Ukrainian president also spoke about Ukraine’s rapid progress in drone technology and battlefield innovation since the start of the war.
He claimed that drones now play a decisive role on the front line, stating that around 90 percent of Russian losses in some areas are caused by Ukrainian drone operations.
Ukraine has moved beyond producing basic aerial and naval drones and is now manufacturing interceptor drones designed to destroy incoming unmanned aircraft.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine has the capacity to produce up to 2,000 interceptor drones per day, with about half needed for domestic defence and the rest potentially available to support allied nations.
“If a Shahed drone needs to be stopped in the Emirates, we can do it. If it needs to be stopped in Europe or the United Kingdom, we can do it. It only requires technology, investment, and cooperation,” he said.
UK–Ukraine Defence Partnership Agreement
During the visit to London, Zelenskyy met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, where discussions focused on security cooperation and defence production.
Following the meeting, the United Kingdom and Ukraine signed a new defence partnership agreement intended to combine Ukraine’s combat experience with the UK’s industrial capacity.
The deal is expected to support the joint manufacturing of drones and advanced defence systems, strengthening both countries’ ability to respond to modern security threats.
Starmer said that Russian President Vladimir Putin must not benefit from ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, whether through rising oil prices or the easing of sanctions.
The agreement signals deeper military collaboration between London and Kyiv as the use of drones continues to reshape modern warfare.
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