Ukraine Sends Military Personnel, Drone Experts to Gulf to Counter Iranian Drone and Missile Strikes

Ukraine has dispatched military personnel and drone specialists to the Gulf region to help defend against Iranian drone and missile strikes, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“✕ Home News Analysis Agro-Forestry Art & Culture Technology Economy & Business Education Energy & Extractives Politics Law & Governance Health Science & Environment Social & Gender Sports Transport Urban Development WASH Research LogIn/SignUp Close the sidebar Ukraine Strengthens Middle East Ties to Counter Iranian Drone Threat Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that Rustem Umerov, the country's top negotiator, is headed to the Middle East with military officials”

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Ukrainian and regional outlets reported that the delegation includes Rustem Umerov alongside military officials traveling to Middle Eastern countries.

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Zelensky framed the deployment as aimed at protecting lives and stabilizing the situation amid rising regional tensions.

Zelensky said the move followed requests from partners, including the United States, and Kyiv intends to provide expertise and systems without weakening its own defenses.

Newsweek notes partners — explicitly including the U.S. — sought assistance as air‑defence resources in the region were strained.

Newsweek

Ukrainian reporting and regional outlets portray the trip as focused on cooperation in air defence and exchanging experience in countering drone and missile strikes.

Kyiv is offering operational experience gained during its years-long fight with Russian-operated, Iranian-designed Shahed drones, which analysts say produced low-cost counter-drone tactics relevant to Gulf partners.

“Umerov heads to Gulf region for security talks, Zelenskyy says President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a Ukrainian delegation has departed for Middle Eastern countries for talks on security and countering air threats”

Цензор.НЕТ

Newsweek cites the Institute for the Study of War on Ukraine’s development of detection and defeat methods for loitering munitions, and Ukrainian sources underline that the country has significant experience in countering missile and drone attacks.

Regional reporting also emphasizes the delegation’s role in strengthening defense strategies against Iranian drones.

Officials and analysts frame the move as mutually beneficial: it could bolster Gulf defenses strained by low-cost Iranian drones while opening diplomatic avenues for Kyiv to obtain critical air-defence munitions such as Patriot interceptors.

Newsweek specifically links Ukrainian assistance to potential diplomatic gains and notes interest from U.S. partners; regional coverage also highlights the broader strategic stakes.

Newsweek

Regional coverage warns that Iran’s strikes and the risk of a Strait of Hormuz blockade could affect global energy markets.