Zelensky: Ukraine to Supply Naval Drones to Persian Gulf Countries

Ukraine has reached an agreement with countries in the Persian Gulf to supply naval drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, according to Interfax-Ukraine.

The drone deliveries are part of broader agreements made during Zelensky’s recent visit to the region, where several strategically important documents were signed.

Zelensky signed defense partnership deals with both Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These agreements, planned to last at least 10 years, include joint weapons production.

Under the agreements, Ukraine and its partners will engage in co-production, building factories and production lines both in Ukraine and in the Gulf countries.

President Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine already has decade-long strategic contracts worth billions of dollars with three Middle Eastern countries, ensuring stable exports and profits for Ukrainian manufacturers.

Ukrainian Naval Drones

Currently, Ukraine has a large range of naval drones for various purposes, which have already proven themselves as formidable weapons. They are effective both as kamikaze drones against surface ships and in versions equipped with air defense systems or as platforms for launching FPV drones.

Among these models, notable examples include the Magura V5, Sea Baby, Mamay, and others. These drones are credited with destroying numerous small boats as well as larger vessels, such as the patrol corvette Sergey Kotov and the large landing ship Caesar Kunikov. In particular, in February 2024, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine sank the Russian missile boat of Project 12411 Ivanovets.

The Russian ship was anchored in Lake Donuzlav in temporarily occupied Crimea when it was struck by sea drones. A series of direct hits to the hull caused critical damage: the missile boat Ivanovets developed a stern list and later sank.

Ukrainian surface drones have also pioneered new forms of naval warfare. For example, on May 2, 2025, a special unit of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, in coordination with the SSU and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, destroyed a Russian Su-30 multirole fighter in the Black Sea. This was the world’s first case of a combat aircraft being shot down by a naval drone.

In addition to aviation, enemy helicopters have also suffered losses from surface drones, demonstrating the multifunctional capabilities of modern naval platforms.