Ukrainian military personnel shot down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in multiple Middle Eastern countries during the Iran war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, describing the operations as part of a broader effort to help partners counter the same weapons used by Russia in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy made his first public acknowledgment of the operations Wednesday in remarks to reporters that were embargoed until Friday. He said Ukrainian forces took part in active operations abroad using domestically produced interceptor drones proven in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia in Ukraine.

“This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defence system that can actually work,” Zelenskyy said.

  • brucethemoose@lemmy.world
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    2 hours ago

    Let’s set all ethics and politics and humanitarianism aside.

    From a selfish, strategic, “NonCredibleDefense” kind of perspective, Ukraine is an incredible military power. Militaries around the world should be on their knees begging for their experience, if not their units. With, for instance, shooting down drones.

    And it’s absolutely mind boggling to me that Western powers don’t see that. Think how Ukraine could help them militarily all over the world… If I were Xi, I wouldn’t invade Taiwan with a bigger chunk of Ukrainians training them.

      • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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        3 hours ago

        No fucking business defending against the regime that designed and produced the drones that have been knocking their civilian infrastructure for four years. Get a fucking grip.

        There is very little he cant do at this stage, he has the mandate to protect his country’s borders. I’d love to know what country you are from with their gold star foreign policy?

      • encelado748@feddit.org
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        10 hours ago

        Ukraine has no business defending against the same drones Iran used to bomb Ukranian cities during Russia invasion of Ukraine?

        Maybe I am missing something here. Does not look like Ukraine is part of the aggressor here.

        • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
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          7 hours ago

          I can guarantee that weapons and components from Ukrainian allies have been used to attack Ukraine. That logic doesnt stick. If countries would always go to war with every country that supplied weapons to their enemy, then every war would be an all out world war involving almost every country in the world.

          • encelado748@feddit.org
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            7 hours ago

            Ukraine is not at war with Iran. Ukraine is helping defend against Iran attach to countries around Iran. The US is attaching Iran. The US asked no help to Ukraine.

            • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
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              5 hours ago

              Ukrainians personally shot down a foreign countries military assets during wartime, thats an act of war.

              They didnt “help”, they didnt “teach” or “supply” they “shot down”. Thats Uraine directly partaking in a war.

              • encelado748@feddit.org
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                5 hours ago

                No, it is not an act of war. Article 51 of the UN Charter explicitly grant right to self defence. Inviting other nations to assist in that defence is a right granted by the UN Charter. Iran can obviously consider Ukranian personal as hostile, that is their prerogative, but that does not mean that shooting down drone in self defence is an act of war.

              • jnod4@lemmy.ca
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                5 hours ago

                Kites with no personell on board, more akin as aiding to de-mine a field.

        • Forsho@sh.itjust.works
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          9 hours ago

          Iran did not bomb Ukraine.

          Russia did use Iranian drones.

          If both statement are the same to you then every country that sells weapons to israel is a legitimate target for resistance movement ( like the EU )

          • encelado748@feddit.org
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            9 hours ago

            If both statement are the same to you then every country that sells weapons to israel is a legitimate target for resistance movement ( like the EU )

            Sure, I will not find it problematic if Russia decided to enact defensive measure in Gaza to protect palestine against weapon sold by European nations. I actually would encourage it. I would also encourage any nation to come to the defence of any nation that is a target of an aggressive conquest war from the EU. None materialized as of now for the EU, but for sure I have no problem whatsoever with Russia defending Iran against American aggression. I have problems with Russia being the aggressor.

            EDIT: I want to also add that after 2023 numerous EU countries enacted arms embargoes against Israeil. Iran started supplying the drone to Russia after the invasion and to support the invasion. That is a worthy enough difference to me.

          • Bazell@lemmy.zipBanned from community
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            9 hours ago

            It is called mutual help, which, Ukraine is now forced to provide because of help that was offered to it before. Otherwise it will look like a dipshit country that only can receive help but not give it.

            • Forsho@sh.itjust.works
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              8 hours ago

              Or some would say that the Ukraine regime is a puppet of western imperialism as it is directly supporting an illegal war by the US (and its dogs) on my region

              • encelado748@feddit.org
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                8 hours ago

                Trump explicitly rejected help from Ukraine with drone defence. And he has done so multiple times. The help Ukraine is given is to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, not the US.

                • Forsho@sh.itjust.works
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                  8 hours ago

                  as i said in my message (and its dogs) those countries you listed are puppets regimes controlled by US, and are literally here to serve western imperialism interests.

                  ukraine should focus on liberating it self from russia occupation and it should stop being a puppet state for the epstien class.

      • Bazell@lemmy.zipBanned from community
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        9 hours ago

        It is a return of favor for all the help that was given for the Ukraine from other countries. Ukraine knows how to deal with this type of weapons. Despite some civilian protests, Zelenskiy send small group of soldiers as instructors to help with drones. This is done to increase levels of importance and friendship for Ukraine. That is all.

      • SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social
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        4 hours ago

        The USA has no business fucking around in the… everywhere. Providing air support (air defense? What’s the word here brain?) is fine by me. Maybe not for the aggressors (Israel and USA) though.

  • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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    7 hours ago

    Everyday I like this guy less and less. I understand that he’s trying to ingratiate himself into more US support, but bragging about his part on the wrong side of the Iran conflict is stupid.

      • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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        5 hours ago

        What do you mean “now”? In opposition to Israel and the US they are absolutely on the good side.

        • Visstix@lemmy.world
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          3 hours ago

          The iranian government that executed thousands of protestors? I’m all for the iranian people getting a better life after this but the only good side are the innocent bystanders.

          • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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            3 hours ago

            Is there a “good” government out there somewhere? Have the years of sanctions and now bombs been good for the Iranian people? Were they better off under the hated Shah? You don’t need to like the Iranian government to see that they are defending their country from unjust attack.

    • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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      7 hours ago

      Back off the man, he is holding his country together. He pretty much gets a pass for any public statement that aids his efforts. The US are wrong for starting a war, he is not wrong for helping defend a third nation.

      The US support is dead, the president is an assett of theor occupying enemy.

        • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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          3 hours ago

          Showing their capability is such that they provide assistance to other countries sucessfully?

          Probably a reason you are not a political advisor I guess.

            • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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              3 hours ago

              I was disappointed with his reaction to gaza but it makes sense where henis sitting. He cant afford to take a stance on everything, its the same reason he hasn’t said that Trump is a Pedo - he cant afford to piss off these people. Trump is already on Russia’s side and Bibi owns Trumps ass.