Ukraine has dismissed as false claims by Iran that it struck a depot housing Ukrainian anti-drone systems in the United Arab Emirates, amid escalating regional tensions involving Tehran, Washington and its allies.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhy said Kyiv “officially refutes this information,” describing the allegation as part of Iran’s “disinformation operations.”
Iran’s central military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, had earlier claimed in a statement broadcast on state television that a depot in Dubai containing Ukrainian anti-drone systems used to support United States forces was targeted and destroyed.
Ukraine in recent months has expanded defence cooperation with Gulf states, sharing anti-drone expertise developed during its war with Russia, particularly against Iranian-designed drones deployed by Moscow.
During an unannounced regional tour, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv and the UAE agreed to deepen defence cooperation. Qatar later announced a similar agreement, while Ukraine also signed an air-defence cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this month, Zelensky disclosed that 201 Ukrainian anti-drone specialists were either deployed or en route to support defence efforts in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The developments come as Iran continues strikes against Israel and United States interests across the Gulf region following the outbreak of hostilities on February 28. Tehran has accused Gulf states of allowing their territory to be used for attacks against it, an allegation regional governments have repeatedly denied.
