Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently announced plans to provide evidence to the United States, showing Russia’s involvement with Iran in targeting U.S. bases in the Middle East through satellite surveillance.
“Since the beginning of July, we have recorded active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and U.S. military facilities located there,” Zelenskyy stated on social media platform X. “These images subsequently appear in Iran. There is a clear correlation between Russia’s satellite imagery and Iranian attacks — before the assaults, in preparation for them, and afterward, to assess the damage inflicted.”
This accusation against Russia is not new. Several sources, including a senior U.S. official, confirmed to CBS News that Russia shared intelligence with Iran about U.S. positions in the Middle East during the early days of the conflict. The allegation persists in media reports, often suggesting China might be involved as well.
At a recent Capitol Hill hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed questions about Russia and China’s assistance to Iran. Though his response was vague, he confirmed some level of support. “There’s definitely adversary alignment and attempts to do so,” Hegseth remarked, emphasizing the classified nature of the depth and extent of this support.
However, President Trump later disputed his secretary of defense on social media platform Truth Social. He expressed doubting their involvement, citing assurances from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Therefore, two major countries often discussed concerning Iran are, in my opinion, not participating,” Trump wrote. “If they did, it would be very bad for them — not in their best interests.”
The U.S. maintains approximately 45,000 military personnel, numerous bases, and air and naval assets in the Middle East. Yet Zelenskyy has highlighted specific incidents where Russia aided Iran in targeting these U.S. bases.
“On July 19 and 20 alone, four air bases fell within the area of interest of Russian satellites — two in Bahrain, one in Jordan, and one in Kuwait,” Zelenskyy noted. He emphasized the urgency, stating, “None of us in the world should turn a blind eye to one very simple fact: evil always seeks ways to make things worse and spread further. Russia must be stopped. This war must be stopped. Pressure on the aggressor must work.”
Eighteen American service members have reportedly perished since the onset of the war with Iran, including recent fatalities: three in an attack on Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and another in a controlled demolition in Iraq. Earlier, a March attack on a Kuwaiti base claimed six lives, while the same month saw a refueling plane crash in Iraq and an attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
Nearly 100 American personnel have sustained injuries in recent Iranian airstrikes on Middle Eastern bases, according to U.S. officials.
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