Riyadh: Russia captured satellite images of a key US airbase in Saudi Arabia multiple times leading up to an Iranian strike that wounded American troops there, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has alleged.
“I think that it’s in Russia’s interest to help Iranians. And I don’t believe – I know – that they share information,” Zelenskyy said during an interview with the NBC news.
“Do they help Iranians? Of course. How many percent? One-hundred percent,” he added.
Zelenskyy is currently touring Gulf countries, seeking agreements to supply Ukraine’s air defence systems, tested in ongoing conflict, to nations facing Iranian missile and drone threats.
On the Russian issue, the Ukrainian leader said the intelligence came from his routine presidential briefings compiled by the country’s agencies, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Russian satellites photographed the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 20, March 23 and March 25, just days before the attack, a summary of Ukrainian intelligence, shared with NBC News, said.
Iran launched an attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts both US and Saudi forces, on March 26. Iran had fired six ballistic missiles and 29 drones at the base.
At least 15 troops were injured, including five seriously, according to people briefed on the matter, cited by Associated Press.
Ukraine’s past experience suggests that repeated satellite imaging by Moscow often signals imminent military action, Zelenskyy said.
“We know that if they make images once, they are preparing. If they make images a second time, it’s like a simulation. The third time it means that in one or two days, they will attack,” the US-based news outlet quoted the Ukrainian president as saying.
The NBC report, however, noted that the briefing did not include direct evidence of the satellite imagery or explanation on how Kyiv obtained the information.
More than 300 American service members have been wounded so far, with 273 already returned to duty, according to the US military. At least 13 US troops have been killed in the conflict, Reuters reported.
