Zelenskyy says Russia helped Iran target US bases via satellite surveillance, vows to share evidence
KYIV, UKRAINE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, July 25, claimed he will share evidence with the United States showing that Russia helped Iran target American military bases in the Middle East using satellite surveillance.
His allegation comes just days after President Donald Trump said he did not believe Moscow was assisting Tehran, creating a direct clash over a major national security issue.
I will instruct our intelligence to share with our partners the information we have regarding Russia’s new assistance to the Iranian regime. Since the beginning of July, we have recorded active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and U.S. military facilities located…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 25, 2026
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia shared satellite surveillance with Iran
In a post on X, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had tracked Russian satellite activity over Gulf states and US military facilities since the beginning of July.
"Since the beginning of July, we have recorded active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and US military facilities located there," Zelenskyy wrote.
He alleged the satellite images later reached Iran and matched the timing of Iranian attacks.
"These images subsequently appear in Iran. At the same time, there is a clear correlation between Russia's satellite imagery of these sites and Iranian strikes — both before the attacks, in preparation for them, and afterward, to assess the damage inflicted."
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine intends to provide the evidence to US officials.
Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth offer different views
Zelenskyy's remarks come days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged during a Capitol Hill hearing that Russia and China were enabling Iran at different levels.
"There's definitely adversary alignment... there are ways in which both of those countries are limiting, at different levels, enabling some of the things Iran is doing, yes," Hegseth said.
Trump, however, later pushed back on Truth Social, saying he did not believe either Russian President Vladimir Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping was helping Iran.
"Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating," Trump wrote. "If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests."
Zelenskyy identifies four air bases monitored by Russian satellites
Zelenskyy also pointed to what he described as specific examples of Russian satellite monitoring.
"On July 19 and 20 alone, four air bases fell within the area of interest of Russian satellites — two in Bahrain, one in Jordan, and one in Kuwait," he wrote.
He urged stronger action against Moscow, adding, "Russia must be stopped. This war must be stopped. Pressure on the aggressor must work."
The allegation comes as US troops continue to face attacks in the Middle East.
Eighteen American service members are believed to have been killed since the start of the Iran war, while nearly 100 others have been injured in multiple Iranian airstrikes on military bases across the region, according to US officials.
