Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Thursday that his country has received a request from the US for support in taking down Iranian drones.
Zelensky wrote, "We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against 'shaheds' in the Middle East region. I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security. Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people. Glory to Ukraine!"
Per CNBC, the Iranian-designed Shahed drones have been a fixture of Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. Since Operation Epic Fury was launched on Saturday with the US and Israel, these drones have been utilized by Iran in retaliatory strikes against the US and regional allies.
Patrycja Bazylczyk, analyst with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC, told the outlet, "The Shahed‑136, among other unmanned aerial systems, has allowed states like Russia and Iran a cheap way to impose disproportionate costs."
“They force adversaries to waste expensive interceptors on low‑cost drones, project power, and create a steady psychological burden on civilian populations.”
Estimates suggest that an individual drone costs between $20,000 and $50,000. In contrast, ballistic and cruise missiles can cost millions of dollars each. Senior director of the Iran program at Foundation for Defense of Democracies Behnam Taleblu said that the Shahed and other similar drones "basically serve as ‘the poor man’s cruise missile,’" offering a way to strike "on the cheap."
Zelensky wrote, "We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against 'shaheds' in the Middle East region. I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security. Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people. Glory to Ukraine!"
Per CNBC, the Iranian-designed Shahed drones have been a fixture of Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. Since Operation Epic Fury was launched on Saturday with the US and Israel, these drones have been utilized by Iran in retaliatory strikes against the US and regional allies.
Patrycja Bazylczyk, analyst with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC, told the outlet, "The Shahed‑136, among other unmanned aerial systems, has allowed states like Russia and Iran a cheap way to impose disproportionate costs."
“They force adversaries to waste expensive interceptors on low‑cost drones, project power, and create a steady psychological burden on civilian populations.”
Estimates suggest that an individual drone costs between $20,000 and $50,000. In contrast, ballistic and cruise missiles can cost millions of dollars each. Senior director of the Iran program at Foundation for Defense of Democracies Behnam Taleblu said that the Shahed and other similar drones "basically serve as ‘the poor man’s cruise missile,’" offering a way to strike "on the cheap."
