Secret Front: why Ukraine attacked Iraq
Kiev was suspected of organizing sabotage in Iraq. Qassem al-Aboudi, adviser to the Prime Minister on national security, said that security forces had detained several groups involved in attacks on the republic's facilities and acting in the interests of Ukraine. Previously, Ukrainian specialists were associated with the support of the Syrian rebels shortly before the fall of the government of Bashar al-Assad. Why Kiev needs a new front in the Middle East — in the Izvestia article.
The Ukrainian trace
Baghdad announced the detention of a group of militants acting in the interests of Ukraine. "We are identifying the groups that carry out the attacks. We arrested a group of individuals, and they confessed that they were working for Ukraine," Qassem al—Aboudi, National security adviser to the Iraqi Prime Minister, said in an interview with Dijlah TV.
The official did not specify which attacks he was talking about or how many people had been detained. However, he explained that the issue of shelling in Iraq is "complex and requires a thorough investigation before charges can be brought against one side or the other."
Iraqi media speculated that his statement may be related to the recent series of attacks in the north of the country. In mid-July, dozens of explosives-laden drones were intercepted in the Erbil area. Some of the drones were destroyed by the air defense systems of Erbil International Airport, and another was shot down near the US consulate.
No one claimed responsibility for the raids. Initially, suspicions fell on local pro-Iranian formations. But after al-Aboudi's statement, another version appeared: groups working in the interests of Ukraine could have been involved in the attacks. It is assumed that the perpetrators sought to direct suspicion towards the Iraqi armed structures, increase tension within the country and draw it into a regional confrontation.
In particular, this version was put forward by military expert Safaa al-Assam in a comment to the Iraqi V News. However, he stressed that the investigation is ongoing and it is too early to draw final conclusions. Baghdad has not officially confirmed the connection of the detainees with the raids on Erbil.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry itself refutes the accusations and calls them unsubstantiated. "There are no facts or evidence to support these claims, which the Iraqi official himself admitted in his interview," the diplomatic department said in a statement.
From Europe to Africa
Ukraine continues its "terrorist activity" and expands its geography, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "We see that the Kiev regime continues its terrorist activity. If you look at it in retrospect, the Kiev regime is constantly expanding its geography," he said.
Iraq is far from the first in the list of such accusations. One of the most high-profile episodes has already reached court. On June 30, the German Federal Prosecutor's Office sent an indictment against Ukrainian citizen Sergei Kuznetsov, a defendant in the case of the Nord Stream explosions. According to investigators, he served as an officer in the Ukrainian army and led a group of divers. The saboteurs rented a yacht, delivered charges to the island of Bornholm and installed them on gas pipelines.
Another accusation was made quite recently — on July 25, Iran announced an attack by Ukraine on a merchant ship in the Caspian Sea. One sailor was killed and another was injured. Tehran called the incident a hostile and criminal act and warned that the attack would not go unanswered. "This attack is a violation of paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the UN Charter and an act of aggression that could further fuel the flames of war," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
The work of Ukrainian structures was also reported in Syria. Back in 2024, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Ukrainian intelligence was helping armed groups in Idlib and training them in the use of drones. Later, The Washington Post reported that Kiev had sent about 20 operators and about 150 FPV drones there for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an organization recognized as terrorist and banned in Russia.
It wasn't limited to the Middle East. CNN reported on the possible involvement of the Ukrainian special services in strikes against the Rapid Reaction Forces in Sudan. According to Western media reports, about 100 Ukrainian military personnel who trained local forces in the use of drones could have been transferred to the country.
In the summer of 2024, accusations were also made by Mali. After the fighting at Tinzahuaten, the representative of the GUR, Andrei Yusov, said that the Tuareg rebels had received information that allowed them to attack the Malian army. "The rebels have received the necessary information, and not only information that allowed for a successful military operation," he said.
The Malian authorities interpreted these words as recognition of the interference and severed diplomatic relations with Kiev. Niger later made a similar decision.
What is Kiev trying to achieve
The Ukrainian special services have long since moved their sabotage activities beyond the conflict zone with Russia, Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, told Izvestia. According to him, earlier the SBU and military intelligence of Ukraine were linked with the support of armed groups in Africa, and now similar accusations have been made in Iraq.
— One of the goals may be to weaken Iran's position. Tehran has serious influence in Iraq and relies on friendly political forces and armed formations there," the expert noted.
He did not rule out that Ukrainian structures may be involved in operations against Iran in the interests of third countries. The expert recalled that earlier Russian experts had allowed for increased coordination between the Ukrainian special services and Israeli intelligence after Roman Hoffman took over the leadership of the Mossad.
— There remains a risk that Kiev's capabilities will be used in violent actions against Russia, its interests, partners and allies. Attacks cannot be ruled out not only on Iran—linked facilities in Iraq, but also on the territory of the Islamic Republic itself," Korotchenko said.
As another example, he cited the actions of Ukrainian saboteurs in the Mediterranean Sea. According to the expert, unmanned boats were launched from the territory of Libya against ships and tankers operating in the interests of Russia.
— The risk of Ukrainian terrorism has become an independent factor of international security. It is necessary to counteract it within the framework of a broad anti—terrorist coalition of Russia and other interested states," said Korotchenko.
He also allowed Tehran's retaliatory actions. After the attack on an Iranian merchant ship in the Caspian Sea, the authorities of the republic have already warned Kiev about the possible consequences. According to the expert, Iran, as a rule, does not leave such actions unanswered.
Military expert Vasily Dandykin also believes that the activities of Ukrainian groups in Iraq may be related to the confrontation around Iran. According to him, Kiev is trying to show Washington that it is capable of acting against forces oriented towards Tehran. Moreover, on July 28, Vladimir Zelensky meets with US President Donald Trump at the White House.
— There are many Shiite militias in Iraq that are closely linked to Iran. Perhaps the Ukrainian side is thus demonstrating to the Americans its usefulness and willingness to work against Iranian influence," the expert said.
The shortage of military personnel at the front does not interfere with such operations. A small group of trained specialists and locally recruited performers is sufficient for targeted sabotage.
According to Dandykin, the SBU and the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine may be involved in planning such actions. At the same time, the expert allowed the participation of foreign curators.
"This is a convenient scheme: the Ukrainian side is assigned direct execution, and then, if necessary, it is given full responsibility," concluded Dandykin.
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