Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday that 11 nations have requested Ukraine's expertise in countering Iranian-made drones. The countries seeking assistance include the United States, alongside several European and regional states whose interests are being targeted in the Middle East.
The Ukrainian leader noted a "clear focus" on Kyiv’s proficiency in neutralizing long-range Iranian "Shahed" drones. Russia has deployed these extensively against Ukrainian infrastructure under the "Geran-2" moniker. He underscored that Ukraine’s real-world experience in using integrated systems to intercept high-volume drone swarms remains unparalleled globally.
"We are ready to assist those who support our independence and the protection of Ukrainian lives. However, the government will carefully calibrate the volume of external aid to ensure no shortfall in our domestic defensive capabilities," the president emphasized.
Zelenskyy’s remarks follow reports that Kyiv dispatched military experts to the Middle East last week. Analysts view this as a strategic effort by Ukraine to secure more U.S.-made air defense missiles in exchange for its specialized counter-drone knowledge.
Further complicating the regional security landscape, Zelenskyy pointed to "new information" suggesting that Iranian drones recently used in Middle East strikes contain components manufactured within Russia. Writing online, he confirmed that Kyiv has already responded to some of these requests with "concrete decisions and specific support."
Beyond hardware, Ukraine’s defense industry has pioneered low-cost, single-use interceptors and complex early-warning networks. Ihor Federko, head of the Ukrainian Council for the Defense Industry, told AFP that Kyiv has amassed a unique "set of knowledge and skills" involving acoustic detectors, sensors, and advanced radar systems.
