Zelensky Hints at Naval Drone Deployment to Middle East

President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted on Monday at the potential deployment of Ukraine’s naval drones to the Middle East.

Speaking on television, Zelensky said he had an online security summit with international allies on the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Ukraine is invited to join a follow-up summit in London with military representatives of different nations.

“Today I participated online with Europeans, there were Asian countries, Australia, and countries of the Pacific region. It was a big security summit in the Strait. The next step is that representatives of the military sectors of the countries will meet in London, we are also invited,” Zelensky said, according to state media Ukrinform.

He then referenced the recent 10-year defense deals signed with three Gulf states, saying they include Ukraine’s naval drones.

“Also, if we have our ‘drone deal’ with Middle Eastern countries, our sea drones are included in it. Therefore, anything can appear: we can join in on defense, we can help with convoys,” he said.

Zelensky previously said that over 200 Ukrainian drone specialists have been deployed to the Gulf to help counter Iranian drones, drawing on Ukrainian experience.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hinted at Western initiatives to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery of global logistics, which was closed again due to a deadlock between the US and Iran, with Europe eyeing both diplomatic and military options to maintain maritime traffic.

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Ukraine has invested heavily in drones since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with its naval drones forming a key part of its naval forces to compensate for the vessels captured by Russia in occupied Crimea in 2014.

The naval drones have been proven effective against the Russian navy, having severely damaged the Kerch Bridge supplying occupied Crimea, disabled a Russian submarine, and forced Moscow to relegate much of its Black Sea Fleet from Crimea to the mainland port of Novorossiysk.

On Sunday, Ukraine also said it successfully shot down a Shahed-type drone using a naval drone in a historic first.