Zelenskyy accuses Russia of arming Iran with drones used to hit US bases across Middle East
KYIV, UKRAINE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia supplied Iran with drones that were later used in attacks targeting US military bases in the Middle East.
Speaking in an interview with CNN, Zelenskyy said that the technology had been transferred from Russia to Tehran amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The remarks come as Ukrainian-designed interceptor drones and operators have reportedly been deployed to help defend regional partners against drone and missile attacks.
Zelenskyy’s comments highlight the growing overlap between the war in Ukraine and escalating tensions in the Middle East.
In an exclusive interview with Ukrainian President @ZelenskyyUa, I asked him how Russia is aiding Iran as the war in the Middle East intensifies. Watch to find out his answer.
— Fareed Zakaria (@FareedZakaria) March 14, 2026
For more of my interview with Zelensky, tune in to CNN Sunday at 10am and 1pm ET. pic.twitter.com/sn0mjKgMpL
Zelenskyy points to Russia-Iran drone cooperation in conflict
During the interview, Zelenskyy said Russia had provided Iran with drones that were used in strikes against US military installations in the region.
According to the Ukrainian leader, the systems involved are based on the Shahed-type drones that have been widely used in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Shahed‑136 drone was originally designed in Iran but later produced in large numbers by Russia after technology transfers between the two countries.
The low-cost unmanned aircraft are typically deployed in large numbers, making them difficult and expensive to intercept with traditional missile-based air defenses.
These delta-winged drones have been used extensively by Moscow in attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure since 2024. In recent months, the drones have drawn attention for their ability to penetrate air defense systems in several Gulf states.
Ukraine has faced near-nightly attacks from swarms of these drones since September 2024, prompting Kyiv to develop new countermeasures to defend its cities and energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials say their forces have achieved interception rates of more than 85% to 90% against incoming drones by combining ground-based weapons, aircraft and newly developed interceptor systems.
According to Ukraine’s air force, hundreds of drones can be launched in a single wave. In one recent report, the military said it had intercepted 453 out of 480 incoming drones in a single attack, demonstrating the scale of the threat posed by the unmanned aircraft.
Ukraine sends interceptor drones to defend US bases in Jordan
Zelenskyy said Ukraine has begun sharing its counter-drone expertise with countries in the Middle East that have come under attack during the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The Ukrainian president said Kyiv dispatched interceptor drones and operators to help protect US facilities in Jordan last week after receiving a request for assistance.
One of the key locations involved is the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, where the United States maintains a significant military presence. Zelenskyy said that a Ukrainian team departed shortly after the request was received.
Zelenskyy also said multiple countries had approached Kyiv for assistance. In a social media post, he wrote that “there are 11 requests from countries neighbouring Iran, European states, and the US” and that some of those requests had already been addressed through “concrete decisions and specific support.”
