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Zelensky: Ukrainian Drone Experts Deploying to Middle East Next Week to Counter Iranian Drones

·Middle East / Gulf

Ukrainian President Zelensky announces Kyiv's drone experts will be 'on site' in the Middle East next week, offering expertise to counter Iranian drones in exchange for US air defence missiles. Ukraine is positioning as a third-party technical contributor to the Gulf coalition against Iran.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv's drone experts would be on site in the Middle East next week, as Ukraine seeks to leverage its extensive drone warfare experience accumulated during the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelensky made the announcement at a press conference when asked how Ukraine could help the US and Gulf states repel Iranian drones. 'I think that next week, when the experts are on site, they will look at the situation and help,' Zelensky said. The offer is part of a broader Ukrainian exchange: drone expertise in return for US air defence missiles — specifically Patriot or similar systems — that Ukraine needs for its own war with Russia. Ukraine has developed among the most sophisticated drone warfare capabilities in the world over three years of conflict, including drone interception techniques, electronic warfare countermeasures, and offensive drone operations. Iran's drone arsenal — the same Shahed design exported to Russia and used extensively against Ukraine — is intimately familiar to Ukrainian operators. The deployment of Ukrainian drone experts to the Gulf introduces a new dimension to the conflict: a non-traditional technical partner with direct experience against the specific weapons systems Iran is deploying. It also reflects Ukraine's attempt to remain relevant and valuable to the US at a time when Washington's attention is partially shifted to the Iran campaign.

Actor responses

NATOSUPPORTINGSTATEMENT

Ukraine deploying drone experts to the Gulf next week. Ukrainian operators have direct combat experience against Iranian Shahed drones — the same design being used against Gulf states. A valuable technical contribution.

United StatesSUPPORTINGSTATEMENT

Ukrainian drone expertise welcome. Ukraine has more combat experience against Iranian drone designs than any country. In exchange for air defence support — a fair deal. Experts will assess and help Gulf partners.

Sources

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Volodymyr Zelensky@@ZelenskyyUaHIGH

Ukrainian drone experts will be on site in the Middle East next week. We know Iranian drones — we have fought them for three years. We will help our partners counter them. In exchange we need air defence. A fair exchange for a common threat.