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Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirms Ukrainian forces downed “Shahed” drones in the Middle East for the first time
Ukrainian forces have intercepted “Shahed” drones in the Middle East, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed for the first time.
According to Associated Press, Zelenskyy made the statement during a press briefing on April 10.
The operations took place before the ceasefire agreement between Iran, the United States, and Israel earlier this week.
What Ukrainian forces did
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian personnel took part in real combat operations abroad — not training missions. They used their own interceptor drones, which have already proven effective against “Shahed” UAVs in Ukraine.
“This was not a training mission or exercises, but support in building a modern air defense system that can actually work,” he said.
The president did not disclose the countries where Ukrainian specialists operated. He had previously noted that 228 Ukrainian experts were deployed in the region.
What Ukraine received in return
In exchange for participation, Kyiv secured agreements on:
- weapons to protect energy infrastructure,
- oil and diesel fuel,
- and, in some cases, financial arrangements.
“We are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our country’s resilience. This is much more than just receiving money,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that such capabilities did not exist a year ago, and Ukraine’s combat experience is already saving lives beyond its borders.
