Kyiv, Ukraine — March 30, 2026 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed deploying Ukraine’s combat-tested naval drone technology to support efforts aimed at securing and potentially unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, as part of newly negotiated long-term defense agreements with Gulf nations.
The proposal follows Zelenskyy’s recent diplomatic visits to countries across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Ukrainian officials confirmed that Kyiv is in active discussions with multiple Arab partners to export unmanned maritime systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and operational expertise developed during the ongoing war with Russia.
Strategic Shift in Ukraine’s Defense Role
The agreements, structured as 10-year partnerships and valued in the multi-billion-dollar range, represent a notable shift in Ukraine’s international role. Despite remaining heavily reliant on Western military and financial support, Ukraine is positioning itself as a defense technology supplier and strategic security partner in the Persian Gulf.
Under the framework of these agreements, Ukraine and its Gulf counterparts will collaborate on joint weapons production. Plans include establishing manufacturing lines for naval drones, interceptor drones, and electronic warfare systems both within Ukraine and in partner countries across the region.
Zelenskyy stated that while the United States continues to play a leading role in direct security operations in the Strait of Hormuz, Ukraine’s contribution would focus on providing operational concepts, hardware, and technical consultation.
In return, Ukraine has secured commitments from Gulf nations for energy cooperation and support, which is considered critical as Russian strikes continue to target Ukraine’s domestic energy infrastructure.
Strait of Hormuz and Ongoing Disruptions
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically significant maritime chokepoints globally, facilitating the transit of approximately 20 percent of the world’s daily oil supply under normal conditions. The narrow waterway, located between Iran and Oman, has recently experienced disruptions linked to Iranian actions in response to U.S. and Israeli military activities in the region.
These disruptions have constrained commercial shipping, contributed to volatility in global energy markets, and raised concerns about a broader supply crisis.
Addressing reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskyy linked the situation in the Gulf to Ukraine’s own experience in the Black Sea.
“We raised this issue because it is painful and urgent for the whole world, due to the energy crisis,” he said. “The experience of unblocking sea trade routes with the help of, among other things, sea drones — could this experience help unblock the Strait of Hormuz?”
Black Sea Operational Experience
Ukraine’s proposal is based on its operational record in the Black Sea, where it has used unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to counter Russian naval forces despite lacking a traditional blue-water navy.
Since 2023, Ukrainian forces have deployed domestically developed sea drones to strike Russian warships and infrastructure. According to Ukrainian officials, these operations have damaged or destroyed roughly one-third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The campaign contributed to the relocation of Russian naval assets from bases in occupied Crimea to Novorossiysk on the Russian mainland.
The drone operations also enabled Ukraine to establish and maintain a maritime corridor for grain exports, restoring the flow of agricultural shipments after earlier blockade attempts.
Naval Drone Systems and Capabilities
Ukraine’s unmanned maritime fleet includes several platforms with varying capabilities:
MAGURA V5 — Developed by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), the MAGURA V5 is a 5.5-meter-long unmanned surface vessel with a range of up to 800 kilometers. It can carry a payload of approximately 300 kilograms, including explosives or modified surface-to-air missiles such as the R-73. The system has been used in attacks against high-value Russian naval targets, including the missile boat Ivanovets and the landing ship Caesar Kunikov. Advanced variants, including the MAGURA V7, incorporate air-to-air missile capabilities for engaging aerial targets.
Sea Baby and Mamay — Operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), these larger platforms can carry payloads of up to 850 kilograms or more, including naval mines, rocket systems, and thermobaric munitions. Upgraded versions have an operational range of approximately 1,000 kilometers. These systems have undergone rapid development, with newer configurations integrating air defense features and serving as launch platforms for first-person-view (FPV) drones.
In May 2025, Ukrainian officials reported a naval drone engagement in which a sea-based platform successfully targeted and destroyed a Russian Su-30 multirole fighter aircraft over the Black Sea, marking a notable expansion of drone capabilities into air defense roles.
Expansion of Defense Cooperation
Zelenskyy indicated that Gulf partners are actively studying Ukraine’s operational methods and technology. Ukrainian teams are already engaged in cooperation with countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan, focusing on counter-drone systems and broader defense planning.
“They understand that our Armed Forces were very effective in unblocking the Black Sea corridor. We are sharing these details,” Zelenskyy said. “They know that they can count on our expertise in this area.”
The agreements also include provisions for software transfer, tactical training, and integration of Ukrainian systems into existing regional security frameworks.
Outlook
The proposed deployment of Ukrainian naval drone expertise in the Strait of Hormuz reflects Kyiv’s effort to expand its defense-industrial footprint while contributing to international maritime security. The initiative remains in the negotiation phase, with implementation dependent on final agreements with Gulf partners and coordination with existing security stakeholders in the region.
Ukrainian officials emphasized that the technology and operational concepts being offered are adaptable to different maritime environments and could support efforts to stabilize shipping routes in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
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