Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that multiple Middle Eastern countries have turned to Kyiv for help countering Iranian drone attacks - a development that took even him by surprise.
As "Hvylya" reports, citing The Atlantic, Zelensky held calls with the leaders of Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, and the UAE within days of the US-led offensive against Iran. All four nations have faced sustained Iranian drone barrages. "The Middle East is calling us," Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv. "We're at war. But they're reaching out to us."
The irony is sharp. Before launching its offensive, the United States never asked Ukraine to share its counter-drone expertise - despite Ukraine having more experience fighting Shaheds than any country on earth. "I have not received any direct requests," Zelensky said on Monday. "I have not discussed this with anyone." That changed the following day, when Middle Eastern leaders began reaching out directly.
Ukraine's credibility in this space rests on hard-won results. Since Russia began using Iranian-designed Shahed-136 drones in the fall of 2022, Ukrainian engineers have developed a range of countermeasures - from lasers to AI-enabled interceptor drones costing as little as $1,000. Their success rate against Shaheds stands at roughly 90 percent. "Iranian attack drones are the same 'shaheds' that have been striking our cities, villages, and our Ukrainian infrastructure throughout this war," Zelensky said.
Oleksandr Kamyshin, an adviser to Zelensky on arms production, framed it as a strategic opportunity. "It's our innovation," he told The Atlantic. "And I think it would be very useful for our partners right now in the Middle East." Ukraine has agreed to send both personnel and equipment to the affected countries. "Ukrainian experts will operate on-site, and teams are already coordinating these efforts," Zelensky wrote on X.
Also read: Fatal Pattern Since October 7: Why Iran's Overconfidence May Prove Deadly