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

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.