KYIV (Realist English). Ukraine has received requests from 11 countries seeking assistance in countering Shahed-type drones amid the ongoing Iran war and Tehran’s attacks across the Gulf region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week.
According to Zelenskyy, Kyiv has reviewed the requests in detail and is considering providing security support based on its experience defending against Iranian-designed drones used during Russia’s war against Ukraine.
He said Ukraine is prepared to assist partners but emphasized that cooperation would depend on whether those countries support Ukraine’s own security and sovereignty.
“Some requests have already resulted in concrete decisions and specific support,” Zelenskyy said, without naming the countries involved or specifying which nations might not receive assistance.
The Ukrainian leader previously confirmed that Kyiv had already deployed interceptor drones and a team of specialists to help protect US military bases in Jordan.
Iran accuses Ukraine of entering the conflict
Iranian officials responded sharply to the reports. Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, accused Ukraine of effectively joining the war by supporting Israel with drone capabilities.
In a post on the social media platform X, Azizi warned that such actions could make Ukraine a potential target for Iran.
The remarks highlight rising tensions between Tehran and Kyiv as the Iran conflict expands across the region.
Ukraine’s drone defense experience
Ukraine has built extensive experience in countering Shahed-type drones since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
According to Ukrainian military officials, the country’s interception rate against such drones now reaches roughly 80 percent.
Kyiv has developed a multi-layered air defense system designed specifically to counter unmanned aerial vehicles. The system includes mobile fire groups — often pickup trucks equipped with heavy machine guns — electronic warfare systems and domestically developed interceptor drones.
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that in February alone, more than 70 percent of Shahed-type drones targeting Kyiv and surrounding regions were shot down by interceptor drones.
Iran-Russia cooperation
Iran has been one of Russia’s closest partners since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Tehran initially supplied Russia with Shahed drones used in attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and cities. Later, Iranian technology helped Russia establish domestic production of similar drones.
Ukraine’s growing expertise in counter-drone warfare has drawn interest from other countries now facing similar threats as drone warfare becomes an increasingly prominent feature of modern conflicts.
