A Sting interceptor drone by the Ukrainian company Wild Hornets flies at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, March 16, 2026. Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Ukraine has deployed military units to five Middle Eastern countries to help protect critical and civilian infrastructure against drones, Ukrainian security council secretary Rustem Umerov said on Friday after visiting the region.He said the teams had been sent to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan, which have come under fire during the Iran war. Further steps for “long-term security cooperation” have been outlined with each of the five nations, he said, without giving details.

“Ukrainian military specialists are operating in each of these countries under the coordination of the National Security and Defense Council,” Umerov wrote on X.

Kyiv has said nearly a dozen countries have sought its help and advice in defending against cheap kamikaze drones, which Iran is using against its Gulf neighbors. Russia has launched similar drones at Ukraine since its 2022 invasion, and Kyiv has developed its own advanced interceptor drone capabilities.

Although Gulf states operate sophisticated US-made air defense systems, the missiles they use are in short supply and they cost much more than Iran’s Shahed drones.

Moscow has bombarded Ukraine with nearly 60,000 Shaheds and similar systems. It initially bought thousands of them from Iran, before establishing its own production facilities to make them under license. Ukraine has also launched drone attacks at Russia, although on a smaller scale.

UKRAINE WANTS MONEY AND TECHNOLOGY IN RETURN

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week Kyiv wanted money and technology in return for its help in the Middle East although this still had to be agreed.

Zelenskiy has said the United States was among nations that sought Kyiv’s help, and that Ukrainian specialists had been sent to a US military base in Jordan.

He said Friday that Kyiv has deployed 228 Ukrainian military experts to help Middle Eastern countries with drone defense and is working with Middle Eastern leaders to sign “serious agreements.”

Zelenskiy also told reporters that Ukrainian and US working groups would continue work on bilateral documents between Kyiv and Washington and discuss a wide-ranging drone deal at a meeting in the US at the weekend.

US President Donald Trump, who has a rocky relationship with Zelenskiy, has denied Washington needs Kyiv’s help in downing drones.

Umerov said on Friday that drone interception units were initially protecting civilian and critical infrastructure, and work was under way to expand their coverage areas.

The teams were using Ukrainian technology to counter drone attacks and partners were consulting with them, he said.

Zelenskiy said he had ordered Umerov, the military and the foreign ministry to assess “the real readiness” of countries to join international initiatives to secure the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway for global energy supplies effectively closed since US-Israeli attacks began on Iran on Feb. 28.

“It is important that Ukraine‘s global significance in ensuring security and the quality of Ukrainian security expertise in safeguarding lives are recognized by all partners,” he wrote on Telegram.