Ukraine opens defence expertise export in Middle East security deals

Ukrainian companies will work with the armed forces of these countries to protect specific facilities.

The ten-year agreements Kyiv has struck with three Gulf countries will see Ukrainian companies help to protect critical facilities, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Around 200 Ukrainian military experts were dispatched to the Middle East shortly after the launch of the US-Israeli war against Iran to help defend neighbouring countries against Iranian retaliatory strikes, especially those using long-range drones.

The move to send active military personnel outside the country despite relentless Russian attacks at home had initially sparked criticism but also led to discussions on allowing a new sector to be created: private military contractors.

Currently, Ukraine does not allow former military personnel to become private defence contractors for foreign entities. Zelenskyy’s step, allowing Ukrainian companies to advise foreign militaries, can be seen as a first step in this direction.

“Ukrainian companies will work with the armed forces of these countries to protect specific facilities,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post on Friday.

The president will now negotiate “volumes, services, and types of weaponry” for which Ukraine will be paid in various different forms such as interceptors, crude oil, diesel or financial contributions.

The deals have reportedly been made with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, with Zelenskyy saying further contracts are being discussed with Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Zelenskyy also confirmed that military experts sent to the Middle East not only provided advice to local armed forces on interceptor drones and electronic warfare but shot down Iranian Shahed long-range drones as well.

“In those countries that opened up their air defence systems to us, our experts were able to very quickly advise how to make those systems stronger,” Zelenskyy said. “In some cases, we directly shared our experience in actual defence.”

Ukraine’s expertise on drone defence and its innovative technology against this new type of warfare has been in high demand ever since Iran struck multiple countries in the area with its long-range suicide drones.

Originally exported to Russia in its war against Ukraine, Moscow quickly advanced the fixed-winged drones, leading to a technologal race with Ukraine.