AP News52%
Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces shot down Shahed drones in Middle Eastern countries during Iran war 43%
By Volodymyr Yurchuk0% Hanna Arhirova68%
4/10/2026, 6:10:21 AM
Topics: Iran War, Russia Ukraine War
BS Summary: This article contains 25 faulty reasoning types, including Post Hoc (False Cause), Confirmation Bias, and Availability Heuristic, with Framing Effect as the most egregious example at 31.4% saturation with 203 hits. Analysis detected 1,151 faulty-reasoning hits from 647 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 46.6% and a BS Rank of 43% (9,601 of 16,813 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 57.10% of the article peer group.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian military personnel have 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 defense system that can actually work," Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine took part in the defensive operations before the tentative ceasefire in the Middle East was reached among Iran, the United States and Israel this week.
In exchange, Ukraine is receiving weapons to protect its energy infrastructure, along with oil, diesel and, in some cases, financial arrangements, he said.
The Ukrainian leader said the agreements would bolster Ukraine's energy stability and described the partnerships as something that would "be marketed" as Kyiv seeks to formalize and expand its defense export role.
"We are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our country's resilience," he said.
"This is far more than simply receiving money."
Ukraine will face more pressure
The disclosure comes amid concerns that conflict in the Middle East could divert Western military support from Ukraine, particularly air defense supplies.
But Zelenskyy said that partners were continuing to supply missiles for Patriot systems, adding that a new batch had arrived in recent days and that Ukraine was working with all partners to ensure its air defense remained in place.
He warned that the coming spring and summer would be difficult for Ukraine, with growing political and battlefield pressure as the United States turns to domestic politics and elections.
Zelenskyy said he had urged U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit Kyiv and proposed a trilateral format with Moscow.
It remains unclear whether they will come or if talks will instead take place in a third country.
U.S.-led talks have made no progress on key issues, as Washington's attention shifts to the Middle East conflict while Russian and Ukrainian forces remain locked in fighting along the roughly 1,250-kilometer (800-mile) front line.
Putin declares Easter truce and Ukraine ready to reciprocate
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to mirror any ceasefire steps after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter truce.
"We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays this year and will act accordingly", Zelenskyy said Friday on X.
"People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well".
Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4 p.m.
Saturday until the end of Sunday.
Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Putin's move as a "humanitarian" gesture, but said Moscow remains focused on a comprehensive settlement based on its longstanding demands — a key sticking point that has prevented the two sides from reaching an agreement.
Peskov also confirmed that Putin's envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is in the United States for meetings focused on economic issues.
He noted that Dmitriev is conducting the meetings within the framework of a group on economic issues that he has led, adding that he is not involved in the talks on the war in Ukraine and his trip "doesn't mean the resumption of the talks."
Dmitriev's visit to the U.S. comes just before the termination of the 30-day sanctions waiver for Russian oil.
Analysis
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