Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian reconnaissance satellites have recently captured images of key U.S. and allied military sites across the Middle East, raising concerns that the data could be used to help Iran plan attacks.
The warning came after Zelenskyy returned from a trip to several Gulf countries now facing Iranian missile and drone strikes. As Ukraine builds closer ties in the region, he said Kyiv has been sharing intelligence and defense insights with partners there.
In a March 28 post on X, Zelenskyy said he had been briefed on satellite activity targeting strategic locations “in the interests of Iran,” including military bases and energy infrastructure.
“Everyone knows that repeated reconnaissance indicates preparations for strikes,” he wrote.
According to Zelenskyy, the imaging took place over several days in late March. On March 24, Russian satellites reportedly photographed the U.S.-U.K. military facility on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. In the following days, they captured Kuwait International Airport, parts of the Greater Burgan oil field, and Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
When I travel outside of Ukraine, I get daily intelligence updates online. This morning, I was briefed that U.S. military facilities in the Middle East and the Gulf region were photographed by Russian satellites in the interests of Iran.
On March 24th, they imaged the U.S.–UK…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 28, 2026
Additional targets on March 26 included Saudi Arabia’s Shaybah oil and gas field, Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, one of the largest U.S. military installations in the region.
Some of these locations, particularly in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, have been hit in recent Iranian strikes. It’s not clear whether the satellite imagery Zelenskyy described was directly used in those attacks.
His comments follow a regional tour that included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan, where he discussed security cooperation with local leaders.
In an interview with Axios, Zelenskyy went further, saying Ukraine has shared information with Middle Eastern partners about what it sees as Russian support for Iran, including possible targeting assistance.
“I think Russia is supporting Iran directly, 100%,” he said, adding that the intelligence-sharing resembles what Russia has done in Ukraine.
Ksenia Svetlova, an associate fellow at Chatham House, said recent developments suggest growing coordination between Moscow and Tehran on intelligence. She pointed to reports that Russia may be providing Iran with satellite-based target lists covering U.S. and regional assets.
That kind of support allows Russia to assist Iran without committing troops or equipment, she said.
The White House has not confirmed the intelligence-sharing but said it has not affected U.S. operations. A spokesperson said recent strikes have significantly reduced Iran’s missile and drone capabilities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also downplayed the impact, saying Russia’s actions are not affecting the effectiveness of U.S. operations.
Still, some defense officials see the reports as consistent with Russia’s broader posture. Retired Lt. Gen. Richard Newton said it fits a pattern of adversarial behavior, though he cautioned against escalating into direct conflict with Moscow.
Others argue the situation underscores a larger threat. Carrie Filipetti, a former State Department official, said reports of Russia providing targeting intelligence to Iran show the risks facing U.S. forces and called for stronger measures to hold Moscow accountable.
Russia has not publicly responded to Zelenskyy’s claims. Requests for comment sent to Russian officials and Iran’s U.N. mission were not answered.
Zelenskyy also used the moment to push back against any talk of easing sanctions on Russia.
“There must be pressure on the aggressor,” he wrote. “Lifting sanctions is certainly not pressure.”
