Zelenskyy confirms for first time that Ukraine shot down Shahed drones in Middle East
Illustrative photo: Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down Iranian Shahed drones abroad (Getty Images)
Ukrainian forces shot down Shahed drones in the Middle East. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially confirmed this for the first time, according to Associated Press.
The operations took place even before the ceasefire between Iran, the United States, and Israel was signed this week.
What exactly Ukrainians did
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian forces took part in real combat operations abroad — not training missions. They used their own interceptor drones, which have already proven effective against Shahed drones in Ukraine.
"This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defense system that can actually work," he said.
The president did not specify the countries where Ukrainian specialists operated. Earlier, he said that 228 Ukrainian experts had been deployed in the region.
What Ukraine received in return
In exchange for participating in the operations, Kyiv secured agreements for:
- Weapons to protect energy infrastructure;
- Pil and diesel fuel;
- In some cases, financial arrangements.
"We are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our country’s resilience. This is far more than simply receiving money," Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained.
As reported by RBC-Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that allies on the alliance’s eastern flank and countries in the Persian Gulf are protecting themselves from drones thanks to Ukrainian technologies.
According to him, these developments did not exist a year ago, and Ukraine’s combat experience is already saving lives beyond its own borders.
Earlier, Zelenskyy also reached agreements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar on protection against Iranian drones.
At the time, the president noted that additional requests had also come from Bahrain and Oman.
