Ukraine sends over 200 drone experts to Gulf to counter Iran attacks

Ukraine has sent over 200 anti-drone military experts to the Gulf to help thwart Iranian attacks with more set to go, building on years of experience gained from the war with Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine has sent 201 anti-drone experts to the MENA region, with 34 more ready to be deployed, which follows reports that Saudi Arabia had requested Kyiv's assistance in countering UAVs.

Tehran has launched waves of Iranian rocket and drone strikes on Gulf states, particularly the UAE, after the US-Israeli assault on Iran on 28 February, with attacks now primarily focused on civilian targets.

Ukraine previously said its anti-drone experts have been dispatched to Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, which have all faced Iranian attacks on a near-daily basis.

"These are military experts, experts who know how to help, how to defend against Shahed drones," Zelensky told media.

“Our teams are already in the Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and on the way to Kuwait. We are working with several other countries - agreements are already in place. We do not want this terror of the Iranian regime against its neighbours to succeed."

Drones have been a key part in the war in Ukraine, initially used to successfully push back the Russian invasion, but now a primary defensive and offensive weapon for Kyiv, with as many as 90 percent of Russian losses caused by drones, according to Zelensky.

Russia purchased Shahed drones from Iran to target Ukrainian forces and cities, before producing their own variant of the device with some modifications.

With Gulf states able to intercept rockets more easily, or perhaps stockpiles of rockets running low, Iran has turned to using drones that are better able to fly through air defences and hit their targets.

Ukraine has become adept at warding off Shaheds, with anti-drone devices, the same weapons Tehran is now directing at Gulf cities, ports, and oil fields.

Iran can mass-produce Shaheds at a low cost, and Tehran has reportedly been able to benefit from Russian innovations to the device to make them an even more lethal weapon.

"Russia then upgraded them. And now we have clear evidence that Iranian Shaheds used in the region contain Russian components," Zelensky said.

"So what is happening around Iran today is not a faraway war for us, because of the cooperation between Russia and Iran.  The regimes in Russia and Iran are brothers in hatred, and that is why they are brothers in weapons. And we want regimes built on hatred to never win - in anything."

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that officials believe Russia is supplying Iran with technology and expertise on improving the communication, navigation and targeting for drone strikes, as well as tactical advice on deploying Shaheds.