Zelensky says Ukrainian drone experts to visit Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia this week

Ukrainian military experts are due this week in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on Tuesday, where they will share expertise on downing Iranian drones.

Ukraine has to fend off nightly barrages of Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones launched by Russia, an ally of Tehran, and says it has unmatchable expertise in how to thwart the attacks.

“The first three countries to which we sent them, according to our agreements, are Qatar, the Emirates, and Saudi Arabia,” Zelensky said in an audio message sent to reporters, including AFP.

“When it comes to shooting down massive Shahed attacks, only Ukrainian experience can really help with this today,” he added, referring to the Iranian-designed drones that Russia uses.

His communications adviser also told reporters that Ukrainian specialists had been deployed to a US military base in Jordan, without giving details.

Zelensky has called for US allies in the Gulf to give over much-needed air defense missiles in exchange for Ukrainian drone interceptors.

The Ukrainian president said Monday that 11 countries had tapped Kyiv for help in how to counter the Iranian drones.

“As of now, there are 11 requests from countries neighboring Iran, European states, and the US. There is clear interest in Ukraine’s experience in protecting lives, relevant interceptors, electronic warfare systems and training,” Zelensky said Monday.

Igor Fedirko, CEO at the Ukrainian Council of Defense Industry, said that beyond interceptors, Kyiv has gained a “body of knowledge and skills” that it could share with allies.

“No one in the world has the expertise and experience that we do. We use combined systems, acoustic detectors, and sensors. We use early warning systems, different types of radars,” he told AFP.

According to Ukraine air force data, the military has been consistently intercepting or shooting down more than 80 percent of all incoming Russian drones — hundreds of which are fired every night. Kyiv uses a mix of cheap drone interceptors, electronic jamming tools, anti-aircraft guns, fighter jets, and helicopters to defend its skies from the Russian attacks.

“These technologies that we paid a huge price for, with the blood and death of citizens and soldiers, cannot be just handed over for free,” Fedirko said.

Reuters contributed to this report.