Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that a contingent of military experts from Ukraine will arrive in the Middle East next week to assist Gulf nations in countering Iranian drone attacks.
During a joint press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in Kyiv on March 8, Zelensky confirmed that the first group of experts would be dispatched on March 9. He addressed questions regarding whether the support would include only interceptor drones or also personnel, stating that “many details are being discussed.”
“We understand the shortages of resources both in our country and in the Gulf states. We are addressing this issue. It is still early to provide further specifics. I believe that once the experts are on the ground, they will assess the situation and provide assistance accordingly,” he explained.
Zelensky highlighted the presence of various air defense systems in the region, including the American-made Patriot systems, but noted that these have proven insufficient against contemporary attacks.
“Ukraine possesses significant expertise and experience in this area. All countries recognize that we have the most extensive experience currently available, and we need to share this knowledge with our close friends and partners in Europe,” he added.
In comments to TCN, Zelensky specified that multiple groups of Ukrainian experts would be sent to the Middle East, with the first group departing on Monday. He also mentioned that there is considerable interest among Gulf nations in acquiring Ukrainian interceptor drones.
“We are prepared to produce these drones. The volume that is not utilized domestically is quite substantial,” the president stated.
Earlier, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine is considering providing expertise on countering Shahed-type attack drones to Middle Eastern countries. On March 5, he confirmed that Kyiv had received a request for assistance from Washington regarding Iranian kamikaze drones targeting Gulf nations, and he instructed officials to ensure the necessary resources and the presence of Ukrainian specialists.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the deployment of military experts to the Middle East to assist Gulf countries in countering Iranian drone threats. This initiative follows a request for support from the United States regarding Iranian drone attacks in the region.