The Presidency of Ukraine announced that the country has already sent around 200 Ukrainian specialists to the Middle East to assist the United States Armed Forces against Iranian Shahed drones, within the framework of cooperation requested by Washington from Kyiv in light of the evolution of the regional conflict. The information was confirmed by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who linked this deployment to the experience accumulated by his country in defending against this type of unmanned systems, used recurrently by Russia.
During a speech before the Parliament of the United Kingdom in London, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine has already sent military experts to the Middle East and the Gulf region to collaborate in tasks related to protection against Iranian Shahed drones. According to the president, there are currently 201 Ukrainians deployed in that area and another 34 specialists ready to be sent if necessary.
“I sent these military experts at the request of our partners, including the United States. In fact, this is part of the drone agreement we proposed to the United States, which we are working on together and which remains on the table,” declared Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president also added that Kyiv is willing to offer similar agreements to other partners considered reliable, ranging from practical cooperation in drones to future defense partnerships.
The Ukrainian assistance comes in a context marked by new Iranian attacks against bases located in countries allied with the United States in the region, a situation that, according to reports from U.S. media cited in the background material, prompted the request for support to Kyiv. At the same time, when asked about the possibility of receiving help from allied countries to counter drones used by Iran, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated: “I will certainly accept, you know, any help from any country.”
Through the social network X, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had also anticipated the decision to respond favorably to the U.S. request and explained that he had issued instructions to provide the necessary means. “We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against ‘Shahed’ in the Middle East region. I instructed to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security,” the Ukrainian head of state said.
The president stated that the world has entered a new stage in which drones and artificial intelligence directly influence battlefield outcomes. In that sense, he emphasized that Ukraine has developed concrete experience in neutralizing Iranian Shahed drones, including models that, according to him, were modernized by Russia and now represent an even greater threat due to their systematic use in air attacks.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the most efficient way to counter these drones is through interceptor drones, a lower-cost alternative compared to the use of combat aircraft or missiles costing several million dollars. “In Ukraine, we stop one of those drones with two or three interceptors, small interceptors that cost less than $10,000 in total. That is why our approach is much more cost-effective than anything our partners are using today,” he noted.
In the same address, the Ukrainian president showcased the P1-SUN interceptor drone and highlighted projects developed together with international partners, including the United Kingdom. “I am glad that we have a joint project with the United Kingdom: the Octopus drones. This is a successful decision,” he said, while also stressing that the effectiveness of interceptions also depends on the proper deployment of ground positions to cover as many drone flight paths as possible.
Beyond the deployment of specialists to the Middle East, Kyiv also hinted that this cooperation could open the door to new agreements on production, technology transfer, and counter-drone defense assistance. Although the specific means committed by Ukraine were not officially detailed, the country already has specialized personnel, operational experience, and its own developments in low-cost interceptor drones, elements that now position it as an actor with specific capabilities to assist the United States Armed Forces against Iranian Shahed drones.
*Images for illustrative purposes.
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