Zelenskyy: Russia took satellite images of US air base in Saudi Arabia three times before Iranian strike

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia took satellite images of a US air base in Saudi Arabia three times in the days leading up to an Iranian strike that injured American personnel.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with NBC News, recorded in Qatar on Saturday

Details: During the interview, Zelenskyy shared a summary from the daily presidential briefing he receives from Ukrainian intelligence services. The report stated that Russian satellites had taken images of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on 20, 23 and 25 March.

On 26 March, Iran struck the base, where US and Saudi forces are stationed. According to US officials, 12 American service members were injured as a result of the strike.

Zelenskyy said, citing Ukraine's experience, that repeated Russia's photographing of facilities over several days is a sign of preparation for an attack.

"We know that if they make images once, they are preparing. If they make images a second time, it's like a simulation. The third time it means that in one or two days, they will attack," he said.

NBC News notes, however, that Zelenskyy provided no evidence of the Russian satellite images, nor did he reveal how Ukraine learned of this.

Zelenskyy stated that he is "100%" certain that Russia is passing such intelligence to Iran to help it strike American forces in the Middle East.

"I think that it's in Russia's interest to help Iranians. And I don't believe – I know – that they share information... Do they help Iranians? Of course. How many per cent? One-hundred per cent," the Ukrainian president said.

He also said he believes Russian ruler Vladimir Putin hopes for "a long war in the Middle East".

"[Putin] has benefits, a lot of benefits, of this war," Zelenskyy said, pointing to rising oil prices and the temporary lifting of some American sanctions on Russian oil, which means additional revenues for the Kremlin.

When asked whether he believes US President Donald Trump cares about Ukraine's future, Zelenskyy "paused for a moment", the NBC News writes.

"I hope so. You know the policy of the United States today. They care about the United States more. It's understandable, by the way. We understand it and I think that the American team is very open about it," he said.

Background:

• Speaking to journalists on 28 March, Zelenskyy stated that Russia, which is passing intelligence to Iran for its strikes on American and British bases in the Middle East, must face pressure rather than have sanctions lifted against it.
• The president cited intelligence data indicating that Russian satellites have been photographing US military and energy sites across the Middle East in Iran's interests. On 24 March, they imaged the American-British base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, Kuwait International Airport and part of the Greater Burgan oilfield. On 25 March, they photographed Prince Sultan Air Base – later struck by Iran – and on 26 March, the Shaybah oil and gas field and İncirlik Air Base.

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