Ukraine Deploys 200 Military Experts to Gulf for Counter-Drone Efforts
Ukraine has begun deploying military specialists to the Middle East to support regional efforts against drone threats, as Kyiv seeks to extend its battlefield-tested capabilities to partner countries.
Speaking to the UK parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that 201 Ukrainian experts are already operating across the Gulf, with a further 34 personnel ready for deployment.
The move comes as tensions escalate in the region, with Iran carrying out retaliatory strikes on US-linked sites across Gulf states following coordinated US and Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic.
Kyiv’s Expertise for the Gulf
Ukrainian teams are currently active in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with additional deployments planned for Kuwait.
Their role is to provide operational support in detecting and intercepting one-way attack drones, drawing on Kyiv’s combat experience against Iranian-designed Shahed loitering munitions used by Russia.
Rather than relying on expensive missile-based systems, Ukrainian forces use small interceptor drones to neutralize incoming threats.
According to Zelensky, two to three interceptors costing under $10,000 in total are typically sufficient to destroy a single Shahed drone, significantly reducing interception costs.
In parallel, Kyiv is applying similar principles at sea, using maritime drones to strike Russian naval assets, helping reduce Moscow’s presence in the Black Sea.
Zelensky added that these rapidly adaptable systems could be applied in other regions, pointing to the Strait of Hormuz, where they could strengthen early warning, protect critical infrastructure, and help secure key shipping routes.
Domestic Defense Tech Goes Global
Ukraine seeks to expand defense cooperation, positioning its domestically developed technologies for the international market.
Kyiv’s effort builds on operational know-how gained during the war with Russia, with a focus on drones and related systems.
In this context, engagement in the Middle East represents a further step in the internationalization of the country’s defense sector.
Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia has already moved to acquire Ukrainian counter-drone capabilities, including interceptor systems, through a local intermediary, while talks on a wider agreement continue.
This comes as Ukraine recently announced plans to establish up to 10 export hubs across Europe to manage sales of surplus equipment and channel revenues into the procurement of critical weapons for its armed forces.
