Ukraine will send an unspecified number of Ukrainian military personnel with experience in shooting down "Shahed" drones to the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said they will leave on March 9. Kiev's experience in defending against Iranian drones could strengthen the air defenses of the United States and its allies.
This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Zelensky noted that three unspecified Gulf states (possibly the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Kuwait) want to purchase Ukrainian interceptors.
Zelensky also spoke with several leaders from Middle Eastern countries in recent days, including Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al Saud.
Ukrainian officials confirmed the redeployment of elements of the Marine Corps in the direction of Gulyaipole, as ISW wrote on March 7.
A Ukrainian brigade operating in the direction of Gulyaipole reported on March 7 that elements of the Russian 40th Separate Marine Corps brigade (Pacific Fleet) are operating in the direction of Gulyaipole.
A geolocated video released on March 7 confirmed the report and showed Ukrainian forces striking elements of the 40th Marine Brigade in Olenokonstantinovka (northwest of Gulyaipole).
On March 7, ISW observed reports that the Russian military command had redeployed elements of the Marine Corps - including elements of the 40th Marine Brigade - from the Pokrovsk direction and the Dobropile tactical area in Donetsk Oblast towards Gulyaipole, near the junction of Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts.
ISW continues to assess that this redeployment is likely in response to recent Ukrainian victories in the Aleksandrovka and Gulyaipole directions.
Russian forces have recently prioritized small-group infantry infiltrations and rarely conducted mechanized attacks.
ISW last observed small mechanized attacks in the southern part of Pokrovsk and Kupyansk on February 5 and 9, respectively.
Ukrainian forces likely continued their campaign of medium-range strikes against military targets in the occupied city of Donetsk on March 8. Geolocated footage and images released on March 8 show plumes of smoke and debris at the site of several buildings in the northwestern part of the occupied city of Donetsk, near the "Tochmash" factory.
Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) analysts and media sources reported that Ukrainian forces struck an ammunition depot at the factory and increased local reports of massive explosions, including secondary detonations, in the area.
ISW is unable to independently verify reports of the strike at this time, but will continue to monitor for additional reports and Battle Damage Assessments (BDA). The Ukrainian General Staff reported, and geolocated footage confirmed, that Ukrainian forces carried out a missile strike with Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS)/SCALP-EG against a Russian "Shahed" drone launch site near Donetsk city airport on March 7.
The "Tochmash" plant is located southwest of the airport.