President Zelensky Claims 11 Countries Ask Ukraine for Help to Fight Iranian Drones

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday, 11 countries have asked for Ukrainian assistance to fight Iranian drones launched across the Middle East, in response to attacks by the United States and Israel.

Ukraine claims to have world-class drone defense capabilities, built through countering the onslaught of Iranian-style attack drones launched by Russia, Tehran's ally, every night.

"So far, there have been 11 requests from Iran's neighboring countries, European countries and the United States. There is a clear interest in Ukraine's experience in protecting lives, relevant interceptors, electronic warfare systems, and training," President Zelensky said, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (10/3).

However, President Zelensky did not mention any further countries he meant.

Earlier, President Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukrainian drone experts would be in the Middle East next week, hinting that sharing resources with the United States could be a "two-way street."

The Ukrainian leader made the comments after being asked if Ukraine could help the US and its allies in the Gulf to fend off Iranian drones.

Last Wednesday, President Zelensky said Gulf and US leaders had asked Ukraine for help in countering Iranian-made Shahed drones, which have become a mainstay of Russia's war in Ukraine. Officials in Kyiv have hinted that they could share knowledge of fighting drones with countries in the Middle East amid the current conflict.

Ukrainian leaders have proposed exchanging Kyiv's drone interceptors - drones designed to intercept incoming attack drones in the air - with expensive air defense missiles that are in very short supply in Kyiv.

According to Ukrainian Air Force data, the military has consistently intercepted or shot down more than 80 percent of all incoming Russian drones, hundreds of which are fired each night.

Kyiv is using a mix of cheap drone interceptors, electronic jammers, anti-aircraft weapons, fighter jets, and helicopters to defend its airspace from Russian attacks.

It is known that the Middle East region is heating up in line with the Israeli and US attacks on Iran on February 28 which killed a number of senior officials in Tehran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The attacks, which have also killed more than 1,300 civilians and children, are entering their second week, and Iran has responded by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in a number of Middle Eastern countries.