Kyiv, March 29 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian satellites repeatedly photographed US and UK military facilities in the Middle East and Gulf in the days before an Iranian attack, naming several specific sites.
Zelenskyy said imagery captured on March 24 included the US–UK joint facility on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago, Kuwait International Airport, and portions of the Greater Burgan oil field. On March 25, Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia was imaged, and on March 26 Russian satellites photographed the Shaybah oil and gas field in Saudi Arabia, Incirlik Air Base in Türkiye, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy said he received daily intelligence briefings while traveling and was told the facilities were photographed “in the interests of Iran.” He argued that repeated reconnaissance often signals preparation for strikes and questioned the logic of easing sanctions on Russia if Moscow is providing intelligence that could be used against US, UK and regional targets. “There are no Ukrainian facilities on this list,” he said, adding: “But who is helping whom when sanctions are lifted from an aggressor that earns daily revenue and provides intelligence for strikes against American, Middle Eastern, UK, and U.S.-UK bases and so on?” He said lifting sanctions does not exert pressure on an aggressor.
Zelenskyy also highlighted Ukraine’s strengths in drone warfare and integrated defence systems, outlining an export package that pairs drones with electronic warfare and defence integration, grounded in battlefield experience. He said Ukraine is preparing drone deals that will include hardware and specialist support and noted that steps are already underway with three countries. “Because our enemy is extensively using the Iranian ‘Shahed’ drone technology, we have developed our own system. And today, we are sharing what we have developed with countries in the Middle East,” he said.
He described broader cooperation with Gulf partners covering weapons co-production, exchange of expertise, and long-term energy cooperation. Zelenskyy said Ukraine had signed ten-year agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar focused on co-production, establishing manufacturing lines in Ukraine and partner countries, and energy security measures such as guarantees for diesel supplies. He noted an agreement to secure diesel deliveries for at least one year.
Separately, Russia’s foreign ministry said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iran’s Seyed Abbas Araghchi spoke by telephone on March 27 and discussed prospects for steering the conflict — which Russia described as triggered by “unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against Iran” — toward a political and diplomatic settlement.
This report is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received; the Tribune assumes no responsibility for its accuracy, completeness, or content.
