Ukraine to send military experts to Gulf to counter Shahed drones
Mar 8th 2026
Kyiv will deploy specialists next week to advise Gulf states on defending against Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones and may export excess anti-drone systems, President Zelenskyy said.
- Ukraine will send its first group of military experts to the Middle East next week to help Gulf states counter Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
- Teams will include personnel with battlefield experience defending Ukraine against Shahed-type loitering munitions to advise local forces and share tactics.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the deployment during a Kyiv press conference with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and said the move followed a US request.
- Gulf states have shown interest in buying Ukrainian anti-drone systems and Kyiv said it can export equipment not needed by its own forces.
- US and UK officials have warned Iranian-made drones are a growing operational challenge and Western countries are already deploying counter-drone specialists to the region.