Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday, July 25, 2026, that he will share evidence with the United States indicating that Russia is assisting Iran in targeting U.S. military bases in the Middle East through satellite surveillance. Zelenskyy stated on X, "Since the beginning of July, we have recorded active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and U.S. military facilities located there."

He further noted a clear correlation between Russia's satellite imagery of these sites and Iranian strikes, occurring before, during preparation, and after attacks to assess inflicted damage.

These accusations are not new. Multiple sources, including a senior U.S. official with direct knowledge, told CBS News six days into the ongoing Iran conflict that Russia was providing intelligence to Iran about U.S. positions in the Middle East. Media reports have also suggested possible involvement by China.

During a Capitol Hill hearing earlier in the week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked about Russia and China's role in aiding Iran. He responded, "There's definitely adversary alignment, attempts to do so, and there are many ways that we deter that. And the depth and extent of it ought to remain classified, and it should."

Hegseth also mentioned that both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin assured him they were not involved.

Since the start of the Iran war, eighteen American service members are believed to have died, including four in recent days—three in an Iranian attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and one during a controlled demolition of an Iranian drone in Iraq.

Sources