President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian military forces successfully downed Iranian-designed Shahed drones in various Middle Eastern nations during the Iran conflict. Zelenskyy emphasized that these operations were crucial in assisting allies in countering the same drone technology utilized by Russia in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters, Zelenskyy disclosed these operations on Wednesday, with details embargoed until Friday. He highlighted that Ukrainian forces actively engaged in operations abroad, utilizing domestically manufactured interceptor drones known for their effectiveness against the Iranian-designed Shahed drones employed by Russia in Ukraine.
The defensive actions conducted by Ukraine occurred before the recent ceasefire agreement in the Middle East involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. Zelenskyy refrained from specifying the countries where these operations took place but confirmed that Ukrainian military personnel supported multiple nations in enhancing their air defense capabilities. Previously, Zelenskyy mentioned that 228 Ukrainian experts were deployed in the region.
In return for their assistance, Ukraine is receiving weaponry to safeguard its energy infrastructure, in addition to oil, diesel, and financial support in certain instances. Zelenskyy underscored that these agreements would enhance Ukraine’s energy security and expressed intentions to promote these partnerships as Kyiv aims to expand its defense export role.
The disclosure of these operations comes amidst concerns that ongoing conflicts in the Middle East might divert Western military aid from Ukraine, particularly in terms of air defense supplies. Despite these challenges, Zelenskyy assured that partners continued to supply missiles for Patriot systems, with a recent batch arriving and ongoing efforts to ensure Ukraine’s air defense capabilities remain intact.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy revealed that he had encouraged U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit Kyiv for trilateral discussions, suggesting subsequent meetings in Moscow. However, due to current circumstances, the envoys have not yet confirmed their visit to Kyiv, raising uncertainty about the location of the potential talks.
Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of maintaining full sanctions on Russian oil by Western allies to prevent Moscow from sustaining its military campaign and potentially benefiting from surging global energy prices. He warned that any relaxation of sanctions could enable Russia to continue its aggressive actions and exploit critical energy resources.