Ukraine Deploys Military Advisers to the Gulf Region

Ukraine Reports Progress in Drone Defense and Offensive Operations

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine may have reclaimed approximately 400 square kilometers of territory this year. The country has also been successful in shooting down record numbers of Russian drones, with a success rate close to 90 percent.

In addition to its domestic efforts, Ukraine is providing expertise and equipment to Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, to help them defend against Iranian drones. This cooperation aims to address the vulnerability of US allies in the region to Iranian drone attacks.

Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported that the country shot down 3,238 Shahed-type drones last month, a record, with a success rate of nearly 90 percent. The same type of drones were sold to Russia in 2022 and have been produced under license by thousands of units.

Zelenskyy also offered to protect British bases in Cyprus, which were struck by a Shahed drone on March 2, by providing interception teams, radars, and acoustic coverage. He stated that Ukraine’s experts can guarantee protection against Iranian attacks similar to those carried out by Russia.

According to Oslo University missile expert Fabian Hoffmann, the problem with US ballistic interceptors is their high cost, which can range from $10 million per shot compared to roughly $3,000 for a Ukrainian interceptor drone. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine can produce at least 2,000 effective and combat-proven interceptors every day.

Ukraine’s offensive capability has also increased, with Russian former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu reporting a fourfold increase in air attacks on Russian infrastructure to 23,000 last year, compared to 6,200 in 2021. Additionally, sabotage and terrorist attacks have increased by 40 percent to 1,830.

Ukraine’s General Staff has reported strikes against several Russian targets, including the Afipsky Oil Refinery and the Aviastar aircraft manufacturing plant. The country has also intensified its strikes against Russian logistics, equipment, and manpower closer to the front line.

Source: Al Jazeera