Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian military personnel shot down Iranian Shahed drones in several Middle Eastern countries during the Iran-Iraq War.
Zelensky described these operations as part of a broader effort to help partners counter the same weapons that Russia is using in Ukraine.
Zelensky made his first public admission regarding participation in these military operations in press statements on Wednesday, but they were banned from publication until Friday.
He said that Ukrainian forces had engaged in active operations outside the country using homemade interceptor drones that had been tested during combat.
He added: “These operations were not related to training missions or maneuvers, but rather to providing support for the construction of a modern air defense system that can actually operate.” Zelensky did not specify the participating countries, but said that Ukrainian military personnel were working in several countries where they helped build their air defense systems.
Zelensky had previously stated that 228 Ukrainian experts were deployed in the region.
Zelenskyy emphasized, “We used our interception capabilities to shoot down Iranian Shahed drones. We proved that achieving these results requires systematic solutions, especially in the field of electronic warfare.”
Zelensky visited several Middle Eastern countries last month to showcase Ukraine's technology and expertise in countering Iranian drone attacks. Security cooperation agreements were signed with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and an agreement with the UAE was announced.
He continued, “We have reached 10-year agreements with three countries. We are currently holding security talks with Oman, and we are holding talks with Kuwait and Bahrain.”
The Ukrainian president explained that in return his country would receive weapons to protect its energy infrastructure, along with oil and diesel, and in some cases financial arrangements, noting that this would enhance energy stability in Ukraine.
He described the partnership as something that would be “marketed” as Kyiv seeks to expand and formalize its role as an arms-exporting country.
He added: “We are helping to strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our country’s resilience, and this goes far beyond simply providing funds.” These remarks come amid concerns that the conflict in the Middle East could divert Western military support away from Ukraine, particularly regarding the supply of air defense systems.
But the Ukrainian president said that partners were still supplying missiles for Patriot systems, adding that a new package had arrived in recent days, and that Kyiv was working with all partners to ensure the stability of Ukraine's air defenses.
