Ukraine and Syria to cooperate on security, Zelenskyy says

Overnight Russian drone strikes in Ukraine killed at least five people and injured others in multiple regions, including Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, and Poltava. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia launched over 270 drones, targeting civilian infrastructure like a maternity hospital and industrial sites. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy made an unannounced visit to the United Arab Emirates to discuss regional security and drone defense cooperation. Ukraine is assisting several Middle Eastern and Gulf countries, including the UAE, in countering Iranian drone attacks. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of global protection against terror and discussed the security situation in the Emirates, Iranian strikes, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz with the Emirati leader.

Russian strikes on Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, and the Poltava region of Ukraine on Saturday killed at least four people and wounded over a dozen others. The attacks damaged residential areas, a maternity hospital, an industrial site, and gas production facilities. In Odesa, one person died and eleven were wounded, while in Kryvyi Rih, two men were killed and two wounded at an industrial site. Russian drones also targeted gas production facilities in the Poltava region, resulting in one fatality. These attacks occurred amid a shifting global focus toward Iran, as the war in Ukraine continues without a clear resolution.

Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed a defense agreement focused on technological cooperation, investment, and future contracts. The deal, announced by President Zelenskyy during a visit to Saudi Arabia, aims to be mutually beneficial, leveraging Ukraine's expertise in countering drones and Saudi Arabia's defense capabilities. The agreement comes as Gulf countries face increasing attacks from Iran amid the US and Israel's conflict with Iran. Saudi Arabia has intercepted hundreds of drones and missiles, and Ukraine has extensive experience in combating drone attacks, having faced over 19,000 Russian drone attacks this winter alone. The memorandum focuses on defense procurement.