(SeaPRwire) –   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a warning, stating that Russian reconnaissance satellites have recently captured images of crucial U.S. and allied military installations throughout the Middle East. This development has sparked concerns about potential targeting, particularly following Zelenskyy’s return from a significant trip to Gulf nations currently experiencing Iranian attacks.

Zelenskyy’s statements emerge as Ukraine intensifies its involvement in the region, sharing intelligence and defense expertise with Middle Eastern partners confronting Iranian missile and drone strikes.

In a post on X dated March 28, Zelenskyy revealed he had been informed that Russian satellites had photographed numerous strategic locations “in the interests of Iran,” including bases and vital energy infrastructure across the Gulf.

“It is common knowledge that repeated reconnaissance indicates preparations for strikes,” he stated.

According to Zelenskyy, this surveillance took place over several days in late March. On March 24, Russian satellites reportedly imaged the U.S.-U.K. military facility on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Subsequent days saw imagery of Kuwait International Airport and parts of the Greater Burgan oil field, as well as Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Additional sites captured on March 26 included Saudi Arabia’s Shaybah oil and gas field, Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which is one of the largest U.S. military installations in the region.

Some of the locations identified by Zelenskyy, including sites in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, have been targets of recent Iranian attacks. However, it remains unclear whether the satellite imagery he described was directly utilized in those operations.

This warning follows Zelenskyy’s recent tour of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan, during which he engaged in discussions about security cooperation and exchanged intelligence with regional leaders.

In an interview published by Axios on Monday, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine had provided Middle Eastern partners with information regarding Russian support for Iran, including potential assistance with targeting.

“I am absolutely convinced that Russia is directly supporting Iran, 100%,” Zelenskyy told Axios. “They are using the same method of sharing satellite images as they did in the case of Ukraine.”

Ksenia Svetlova, an associate fellow at Chatham House, commented that recent events suggest an increase in cooperation in this domain. “There is enhanced cooperation in all matters related to intelligence,” she noted, referencing reports that Russia has supplied Iran with “essentially a target list, through their satellites, targeting American sites, but also air targets in the Gulf.”

Svetlova further explained that such support allows Russia to aid Iran without the need to deploy troops or equipment.

“They are doing whatever they can for the Iranians without incurring costs in terms of money, troops, or equipment,” she remarked.

The White House has not officially confirmed the intelligence-sharing but has stated that it is not impacting U.S. operations.

“Nothing provided to Iran by any other country is affecting our operational success. The United States military has struck more than 11,000 targets and destroyed more than 150 Iranian naval vessels, leading to their missile attacks and drone attacks decreasing by 90%. The terrorist Iranian regime continues to be crushed by the full might of the most lethal fighting force in the world,” White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales told Digital.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also downplayed concerns regarding Russia’s involvement, telling reporters on Friday: “There is nothing Russia is doing for Iran that is in any way impeding or affecting our operation or the effectiveness of it.”

Lt. Gen. Richard Newton (Ret.), a former U.S. Air Force assistant vice chief of staff, suggested that these reports should not be surprising.

“The latest reports that Russia provided essential imaging intelligence to the Iranian regime to target a U.S. air base in Saudi Arabia should surprise no one. Putin is our adversary who can’t be trusted.”

“We should avoid a direct conflict with Moscow,” he added, “but there must be consequences for Russia aiding and abetting the Iranian regime that harms American military personnel and our assets.”

Russia has not issued a public response to Zelenskyy’s claims. Digital has contacted the Russian government and the Iranian mission to the United Nations for comment and has not yet received a response.

Carrie Filipetti, executive director of the Vandenberg Coalition and a former senior State Department official, told Digital that the reports highlight a broader and escalating threat.

“There is no clearer signal that Russia is a dangerous adversary than the continued reporting that Russia is providing intelligence targeting Americans to a regime currently engaged in combat against the United States,” Filipetti stated.

“American service members’ lives are at continued risk because of Putin’s war machine,” she added, urging Washington to take action to “hold the Russian regime accountable and prevent future American deaths.”

Zelenskyy has also voiced skepticism regarding ongoing discussions about easing sanctions on Russia.

“There must be pressure on the aggressor. And lifting sanctions is certainly not pressure,” he wrote.