Zelenskyy told The New York Times that Washington requested the assistance on March 5 as Iranian drone and missile attacks intensified across the region, and Kyiv agreed immediately. Ukraine has developed extensive expertise in countering Iranian-made Shahed drones, which Russia has used widely in attacks on Ukrainian cities since the start of its full-scale invasion. The move highlights Kyiv’s growing role in sharing battlefield experience with partners beyond Europe, while underscoring the international demand for Ukrainian counter-drone know-how as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.