Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the US has redirected specialized anti-drone weapons intended for Ukraine to the Middle East.
Speaking to ABC News in an interview broadcast Sunday, Zelenskyy said that the Biden administration had agreed to send Ukraine the weapons, to help take out Russia’s Shahed drones that have been used to target Ukraine’s cities and infrastructure.
“This morning, my defense minister informed me that the United States has sent those missiles to the Middle East,” he said.
Zelenskyy added: “We were counting on that project — 20,000 missiles specifically designed to intercept Shaheds. It is not expensive, but it is special technology.”
The Wall Street Journal reported that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued the order to redirect anti-drone weapons about two weeks ago, and that the equipment being redirected are fuses that can be fitted to rockets to make them more effective at targeting drones.
In the Middle East, the US has been helping ally Israel defend itself from drone attacks by militant groups aligned with Iran in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, including the Houthi in Yemen.
The Houthis have also targeted international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the US Navy vessels defending them, often using drones.
Russia and Ukraine trade blows
In recent months, Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine, including launching its largest aerial attack since 2022.
Overnight on Sunday, it launched 499 missiles and drones, including 277 Shaheds, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The attacks are not all one-way. Last week, Ukraine launched an audacious drone attack on Russia’s bomber fleet.
Ukraine’s SBU, its internal security agency, said it used small drones to hit 41 Russian aircraft. Those aircraft include A-50 airborne early warning and control planes, An-12 transporters, Il-78 refueling tankers, and Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers.
The ongoing attacks come amid faltering attempts by US President Donald Trump to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Trump has cast doubt on future US military support for Ukraine unless it agrees to a quick resolution to the conflict.
Ukraine has leaned heavily on US support, and Zelenskyy said in the interview with ABC News that his country needs more air defense systems, including missiles for its US-made Patriot air defense systems.
“Without US support, there will be more casualties. Many more,” he said.
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