Ukraine Deploys Anti-Drone Experts to Middle East Amid Rising Threats

Zelenskyy warns of growing Iran-Russia drone cooperation with global security implications Ukraine has deployed more than 200 anti-drone specialists across the Middle East to help counter the growing threat posed by Iranian-made Shahed drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced. According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian teams are already operating in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with additional experts en route to Kuwait and further deployments planned across the region. An additional 34 specialists remain on standby. Speaking at the UK Parliament alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Zelenskyy said the initiative was launched at the request of international partners, including the United States, as part of expanded defence cooperation. He warned that Shahed drones represent a strategic challenge due to their low production cost and effectiveness against high-value infrastructure. Zelenskyy also alleged that Iran has transferred drone technology to Russia, which has since upgraded the systems, with evidence suggesting the integration of Russian components in drones used in the region. Highlighting the imbalance in cost, he noted that while a Shahed drone may cost around $50,000, intercepting it can require missiles worth up to $4 million or advanced military aircraft. Zelenskyy stressed that developments in the Middle East are increasingly linked to the war in Ukraine, warning that deeper cooperation between Iran and Russia could expand the scope of the threat beyond regional boundaries. Source: Newstimehub Ukraine Middle East Drones Iran Russia