Ukraine Sending Anti-Drone Teams to 3 Middle Eastern Countries, Zelenskyy Says

Kyiv is sending teams to bolster defenses in the Gulf countries, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has requested Patriot missiles in return.

A serviceman controls a drone made by the General Cherry company at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on Dec. 4, 2025. Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on March 11 that Kyiv has sent specialists to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to help them combat Iranian drone attacks.

Kyiv says the Russian military has used thousands of drones, based on the Iranian-designed Shahed aircraft, in Ukraine over the last four years.