Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Russian spy satellites photographed the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago after Iran launched two ballistic missiles at the site. In a post on X, he said the images were taken on March 24 “in the interests of Iran”, alongside surveillance of other bases in the Middle East housing American and British troops.
The Iranian attack on Diego Garcia, which occurred before March 24, saw two ballistic missiles fired at the base, located about 3,800km away. One missile failed in flight, while the other was shot down by the US Navy, according to reports. Mr Zelensky also listed other targets imaged by Russian satellites, including Kuwait International Airport, the Greater Burgan oil field, Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, Shaybah oil and gas field, Incirlik Air Base in Turkiye, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The Ministry of Defence had previously indicated it was “highly likely” that Russia shared intelligence with Iran even before the outbreak of war last month. Mr Zelensky’s latest revelation escalates concerns about cooperation between Tehran and Moscow. He noted that no Ukrainian facilities were on the list of imaged sites, questioning: “But who is helping whom when sanctions are lifted from an aggressor that earns daily revenue and provides intelligence for strikes against American, Middle Eastern, UK, and US–UK bases and so on?”
Diego Garcia has become a flashpoint in transatlantic relations after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer initially refused the US permission to launch bombing raids against Iran from the base. He later allowed limited strikes against Iranian drone and missile sites threatening British interests, and after Tehran’s attempt to hit Diego Garcia, other sites targeting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Other targets mentioned by Mr Zelensky have reportedly been attacked by Iran, including Prince Sultan Air Base and Al Udeid base, which also houses RAF personnel.
Meanwhile, UK ministers face pressure to cancel a planned rise in fuel duty amid rising petrol prices and warnings of shortages following Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson declined to say whether the Government would go ahead with the rise, which will see fuel duty increase by 1p per litre in September and another 2p in December. She told Sky News: “For now, there is no need to take action… we will take a view closer to the time.” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued the Government should be “drilling our own oil and gas in the North Sea”. According to the RAC, average petrol prices have risen more than 12% since the outbreak of war and are poised to break through 150p per litre.
