Russian media, propaganda Telegram channels, and accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and X are spreading claims that Ukrainian air defense specialists (operators of interceptor drones) have allegedly been recalled from the Middle East. These reports claim that the leadership of the UAE and Saudi Arabia was supposedly dissatisfied with their performance following Iranian strikes on skyscrapers and their alleged failure to protect five infrastructure facilities they were “assigned” to defend. The source cited is an article by the Italian outlet L’AntiDiplomatico.

This claim is false. The L’AntiDiplomatico article contains no references to verified sources and provides no evidence to support assertions about the withdrawal of Ukrainian specialists or dissatisfaction from Gulf governments. There is also no independent confirmation of alleged strikes on facilities that were supposedly under their protection.

Moreover, the article includes other claims that have already been debunked. For example, it repeats allegations that Baltic countries’ airspace was used for attacks on Russian energy facilities. The foreign ministries of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have publicly denied such accusations from Moscow.

Claims that Ukrainian drones struck residential high-rise buildings have also been refuted by Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation. The Center noted that countries in the Middle East do not have Ukrainian air defense missile systems or missiles in service, meaning...

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