Ukraine and Iran's dangerous new standoff, explained

['Oleg Sukhov', 'Oleg Sukhov Is A Reporter At The Kyiv Independent. He Is A Former Editor', "Reporter At The Moscow Times. He Has A Master'S Degree In History The Moscow State University. He Moved To Ukraine In Due To The Crackdown On Independent Media In Russia", 'Covered War', 'Corruption', 'Reforms', 'Law Enforcement For The Kyiv Post.', 'Read More'] The Kyiv Independent 2026-07-29 20:17:37

A woman stands next to Iranian-made Zolfaghar missiles displayed at Azadi Square in Tehran, Iran on July 24, 2026. Iran has supported Russia's war effort against Ukraine since 2022, while Ukraine responded recently by backing the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Iran was considering launching a missile attack against Ukraine, a source familiar with Ukrainian intelligence told the Kyiv Independent. A man walks past a mural depicting late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran on July 24, 2026. "The result is that developments in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine are becoming more closely connected than before."