MOSCOW, June 8. /TASS/. Kiev counted on US anti-drone missiles and regrets that the United States has decided to redirect them to the Middle East, Vladimir Zelensky said.
"We were counting on that project—20,000 missiles specifically designed to intercept Shaheds. It wasn’t expensive, but it involved specialized technology," Zelenskyy said in an interview with ABC News. "This morning, my Defense Minister informed me that the United States has sent those missiles to the Middle East."
In his numerous video addresses, Zelensky repeatedly rebuked the United States for the lack of any reaction to Ukraine’s requests for supplies or even purchases of US air defense tools.
The Wall Street Journal said earlier, citing its sources that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has ordered to redirect anti-drone technology earmarked for Ukraine to US troops in the Middle East.
The technology was initially developed for laser-guided surface-to-air missile but was later adapted for the use from F-15E fighter jets, WSJ noted. This technology is used to intercept drones launched by the Houthis from the Yemeni Ansar Allah rebel movement. This solution makes it possible to cut down expenses compared to the use of Sidewinder and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.