Kyiv: In a major revelation, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that military personnel from his country were involved in shooting down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in several Middle Eastern countries during the recent conflict.
This statement, given to reporters on Wednesday and later released on Friday under embargo, makes a rare public acknowledgment of Kyiv’s overseas defensive operations.
Zelenskyy said the operations were part of Ukraine’s broader effort to support international partners in countering drone threats, as reported by NDTV.
The Shahed drones, originally designed in Iran, have also been widely used by Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces participated in active defensive operations abroad, using domestically produced interceptor drones that have been tested in battlefield conditions, Zelenskyy said. Without specifying the exact locations in the Middle East where the interceptions took place, he said the deployments were aimed at helping allied countries respond to similar aerial threats.
This announcement by the Ukrainian president highlights the importance of drones in modern day warfare, both for offensive and defensive purposes. Ukraine has developed significant expertise in counter-drone technology since the start of the war with Russia, where Iranian-made Shahed drones have played a major role in long-range strike campaigns.
By displaying its capabilities in intercepting drones, Ukraine has strengthened the possibility of its technology being sought by partner nations. This could result in deepening security cooperation.
