Zelenskyy: Russia thrice photographed US airbases in Saudi Arabia before Iran's strike
The strike on the airbase wounded 12 American servicemen and destroyed an expensive American AWACS early warning and control aircraft.
Photo: Sean Gallup / Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia carried out satellite imagery of a US airbase in Saudi Arabia three times in the days before Iran struck the facility and wounded American servicemen, writes "Ukrainska Pravda".
During an interview with NBC News, Zelenskyy shared an excerpt from a daily report he receives from Ukrainian intelligence services.
The report noted that Russian satellites took images of the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 20, 23, and 25.
On March 27, Iran struck the base, which houses American and Saudi troops. According to US officials, 12 American servicemen were wounded in the strike. Media also reported that an expensive American AWACS early warning and control aircraft was destroyed.
Zelenskyy noted that, based on Ukraine's experience, Russia's repeated photographing of targets over several days is a sign of preparation for an attack.
"We know that if they take pictures once, they are preparing. If they take pictures a second time, it's like a simulation. The third time means that in one or two days they will attack," he said.
At the same time, NBC News notes that Zelenskyy did not provide evidence regarding the Russian satellite images, nor did he say how Ukraine learned about it.
Zelenskyy said he was "100%" confident that Russia is providing such intelligence to Iran to help it strike US forces in the Middle East.
"I believe that Russia is interested in helping the Iranians. And I don't believe — I know — that they exchange information... Do they help the Iranians? Of course. To what percentage? One hundred percent," said the Ukrainian president.
He also suggested that Russian leader Vladimir Putin hopes for a "long war in the Middle East."
"[Putin] benefits, no small benefit, from this war," Zelenskyy said, pointing to rising oil prices and the temporary lifting of some American sanctions on Russian oil, which means additional revenue for the Kremlin.
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