Ukraine Deploys 201 Specialists to Middle East to Counter Shahed Drones

Ukraine has deployed 201 counter-drone experts to the Middle East to help combat Shahed-type drones, with several dozen more specialists ready to be sent.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this during an address to the British Parliament, according to RBC.

He added that Ukrainian experts are already operating in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, and are on their way to Kuwait.

The Ukrainian government is currently working with several other countries, and relevant agreements have already been concluded.

“We do not want Iranian terror against its neighbors to succeed,” the President said.

The President officially announced the deployment of Ukrainian specialists to the Middle East on March 8, and they departed for the region the following day.

This decision was preceded by consultations with partners in Europe and the United States, as well as with countries neighboring Iran.

On March 2, it was reported that the United Kingdom plans to involve British and Ukrainian experts to assist partners in the Middle East.

Ukrainian military personnel have unique hands-on experience in countering Iranian-made kamikaze drones during a full-scale war.

Details of the format of assistance to Middle Eastern partners have not yet been disclosed.

It is likely that this involves deploying mobile air defense units using interceptor drones, or sending instructors to train local forces and help establish systems for responding to drone attacks.

It is also known that countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, are in talks to purchase Ukrainian interceptor drones.