Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Kyiv is ready to assist countries threatened by Iranian-made drones, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, by sharing Ukraine’s battlefield experience and defensive expertise.
In a post on X on Monday, Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine’s years of countering drone attacks during its war with Russia have provided critical knowledge that could help other nations strengthen their air defenses.
“Everyone can now see that Ukraine’s experience in defense is, in many respects, irreplaceable,” he wrote, adding that Kyiv is prepared to cooperate with partners that have supported Ukraine throughout the conflict.
He also called for deeper collaboration to develop Europe’s collective defense capabilities.
Ukraine first encountered Iranian-manufactured drones in late 2022 after Russia acquired them from Tehran more than a year into its full-scale invasion.
According to Ukraine’s defense intelligence, Moscow’s deployment of attack drones has increased significantly since then.
Maj. Gen. Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy chief of Ukraine’s defense intelligence, said Russia initially launched about 30 Shahed drones per month during the early stages of their use.
However, the scale has grown dramatically.
“The largest number of UAVs that the Russian Federation used in July last year was 802,” Skibitskyi said, describing the figure as substantial.
Russia continues to rely heavily on drone strikes, often deploying large numbers in coordinated attacks, prompting Ukraine to refine its air defense systems and counter-drone strategies.