Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of attempting to “blackmail” the United States, alleging Moscow offered to cease sharing military intelligence with Iran if Washington cut off its intelligence data supply to Kyiv.

Mr Zelensky, who stated on Monday that Ukraine’s military intelligence holds “irrefutable” evidence of Russia’s ongoing intelligence provision to Iran, told Reuters he had personally reviewed the data, though he offered no further specifics.

Speaking from his presidential compound in Kyiv, the Ukrainian leader further alleged that some Iranian drones, deployed in attacks against US military assets and allies during the conflict in the Middle East, contained Russian components.

He directly quoted intelligence reports, stating: “I have reports from our intelligence services showing that Russia is doing this and saying: ‘I will not pass on intelligence to Iran if America stops passing intelligence to Ukraine.’

“Isn’t that blackmail? Absolutely,”

While Mr Zelensky did not specify who Russia allegedly addressed these comments to, Moscow has consistently denied assisting Iran in its month-long conflict with the United States and Israel.

Washington confirmed earlier this month that it had also received this denial directly from Moscow when the issue was discussed.

Ukraine, which has faced sustained attacks by Iranian-designed Shahed drones since Russia launched its invasion in 2022, is helping several Gulf states – including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar – to counter drone attacks on their territory, the president said.

Zelensky said he hoped that Ukraine would be able to reach long-term deals with some Gulf countries that would raise funds for the production of Ukrainian drone interceptors or receiving much-needed air-defence missiles.

The news comes as Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed on Wednesday that its air defences downed 389 Ukrainian drones across 13 Russian regions and the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula.

This marked the largest reported overnight attack on Russian territory since the invasion began over four years ago, highlighting Ukraine’s growing long-range drone capability.

The extensive assault came a day after Russia fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukrainian civilian areas, extending its usual nighttime barrage into daylight in one of the war’s biggest aerial attacks.

Ukrainian authorities said at least six people were killed and around 50 injured.