Ukraine will send an unspecified number of Ukrainian military personnel with expertise in downing Shahed drones to the Middle East, underscoring how Ukraine’s experience in defense against Iranian drones can strengthen the air defenses of the United States and its allies in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on March 8 that an unspecified number of Ukrainian experts and military personnel will depart from Ukraine on March 9 to teach unspecified Middle Eastern states Ukraine’s knowledge on how to destroy drones.[1] Zelensky stated that Ukraine will provide the United States and countries in the Middle East with Ukraine’s expertise and military experience in combating Shahed drones, cruise missiles, and other aerial threats and noted that three unspecified Gulf states (likely the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Kuwait) seek to buy Ukrainian Shahed interceptors.[2] Zelensky has also spoken with several leaders from Middle Eastern states in recent days, including Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman al Saud, to discuss insights into countering Iranian threats.[3] Ukraine can offer the United States and US allies in the Middle East unique insights into how to combat Iranian strikes as the Ukrainian military has institutionalized and operationalized the fighting experience that Ukraine has learned throughout the past four years of war.
Several Ukrainian companies have the ability to export battle-tested interceptor drones to the United States and other US allies. Reuters reported on March 7 that Ukrainian manufacturers of low-cost interceptor drones stated that they have the capacity to export large volumes of drones.[4] SkyFall, a major Ukrainian drone and drone interceptor manufacturer, estimated on March 7 that it could produce up to 50,000 interceptor drones per month and could export 5,000 to 10,000 drones while still fulfilling Ukraine’s needs. Ukrainian drone manufacturer TAF Industries Head Oleksandr Yakovenko stated on March 8 that the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait have already requested or expressed interest in importing Ukrainian interceptor drones.[5] Yakovenko noted that it has taken several months to train drone interceptor operators and that training interceptor operators is the main limiting factor for countries looking to use the Ukrainian technology. Ukraine’s institutional knowledge has enabled Ukrainian firms to rapidly develop and refine capabilities specifically tailored to counter Iranian-origin weapons, and continued investment into Ukraine’s defense industrial base (DIB) is important for not just Ukrainian security but also for the United States and its allies.
Ukrainian officials confirmed the redeployment of naval infantry elements to the Hulyaipole direction as ISW assessed on March 7.[6] A Ukrainian brigade operating in the Hulyaipole direction reported on March 7 that elements of the Russian 40th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet) are operating in the Hulyaipole direction.[7] Geolocated footage published on March 7 confirmed the report and showed Ukrainian forces striking elements of the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade in Olenokostyantynivka (northwest of Hulyaipole).[8] ISW observed reports on March 7 that the Russian military command redeployed naval infantry elements — including elements of the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade — from the Pokrovsk direction and the Dobropillya tactical area in Donetsk Oblast to the Hulyaipole direction near the junction of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia oblasts.[9] ISW continues to assess that this redeployment is likely in response to recent Ukrainian gains in the Oleksandrivka and Hulyaipole directions.[10]
The Russian 40th Naval Infantry Brigade conducted a limited mechanized assault in the Hulyaipole direction on March 8. Geolocated footage published on March 8 shows Ukrainian forces repelling a reduced platoon-sized mechanized assault in Hulyaipole.[11] The Ukrainian brigade that repelled the assault reported that elements of the 40th Naval Infantry Brigade conducted the assault with a tank, an armored fighting vehicle, and two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) east of Hulyaipole along the route of Malynivka-Zalenyi Hai-Hulyaipole.[12] Russian forces have recently prioritized conducting small group infiltrations with dismounted infantry and have infrequently conducted mechanized assaults.[13] ISW last observed small-scale mechanized assaults in southern Pokrovsk and Kupyansk on February 5 and 9, respectively.[14]
Ukrainian forces likely continued their mid-range strike campaign against military assets in occupied Donetsk City on March 8. Geolocated footage and imagery published on March 8 show columns of smoke and debris at the site of several buildings in the northwestern area of occupied Donetsk City near the Tochmash Plant.[15] Open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysts and media sources reported that Ukrainian forces struck an ammunition depot at the plant and amplified local reports that there were massive explosions, including a secondary detonation, in the area.[16] ISW is unable to independently verify the reports of the strike at this time but will continue to monitor for further reporting and battle damage assessments (BDA). The Ukrainian General Staff reported, and geolocated footage confirmed, that Ukrainian forces conducted an Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS)/SCALP-EG missile strike against a Russian Shahed drone launch site near the Donestk City Airport on March 7.[17] The Tochmash Plant is just southwest of the airport.
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine will send an unspecified number of Ukrainian military personnel with expertise in downing Shahed drones to the Middle East, underscoring how Ukraine’s experience in defense against Iranian drones can strengthen the air defenses of the United States and its allies in the Middle East.
- Ukrainian officials confirmed the redeployment of naval infantry elements to the Hulyaipole direction as ISW assessed on March 7.
- Ukrainian forces likely continued their mid-range strike campaign against military assets in occupied Donetsk City on March 8.
- Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces made confirmed advances on March 8.