Ukraine has deployed more than 200 anti-drone specialists across the Middle East to counter the growing threat posed by Iranian-made Shahed drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian teams are already operating in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with additional personnel en route to Kuwait and plans to expand cooperation with other countries. A further 34 experts remain on standby.
Speaking at the UK Parliament alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Zelenskyy said the deployment was carried out at the request of international partners, including the United States, as part of broader defence cooperation efforts.
He warned that Shahed drones represent a significant strategic challenge due to their low cost and effectiveness against high-value infrastructure. Zelenskyy also alleged that Iran has transferred drone technology to Russia, which has since enhanced the systems, with evidence pointing to the integration of Russian components.
Highlighting the cost imbalance, he noted that a single Shahed drone can cost around $50,000, while intercepting it may require missiles worth up to $4 million or advanced military aircraft.
Zelenskyy emphasized that developments in the Middle East are closely linked to the war in Ukraine, cautioning that deepening cooperation between Iran and Russia could expand the scope of the threat on a global scale.
Source: Newstimehub
