Ukraine has deployed military units to protect critical and civilian infrastructure against drones in five Middle Eastern countries, Ukraine’s security council secretary Rustem Umerov says after a visit to the region.
Umerov has visited the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan in the past week. He says Ukrainian units had been deployed in those nations, and that further steps for “long-term security cooperation” with each of them had been outlined.
“Ukrainian military specialists are operating in each of these countries under the coordination of the National Security and Defense Council,” he writes on X.
“Interception units have been deployed to protect civilian and critical infrastructure. Work is also underway to expand coverage areas.”
Kyiv has said that nearly a dozen countries across the world have sought its help and advice in defending against large waves of cheap kamikaze drones, which Russia has been launching at its neighbour for years and which Iran is now using in the Gulf.
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From the Liveblog of
Friday, March 20, 2026
