Poland will host joint counter-drone training with Ukrainian specialists as part of a deepening defense partnership following repeated incursions by suspected Russian drones that have raised alarms across the NATO ally’s borders.
The Polish Defense Ministry confirmed that “advanced discussions are currently underway between specialists from both countries regarding deeper cooperation in the field of drone and counter-drone systems.”
The ministry stressed that training activities will take place on Polish territory, clarifying earlier remarks from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that appeared to suggest Polish forces would be sent into Ukraine upon the approval of Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Drone Incursions Raise NATO Tensions
The announcement comes as Poland faces growing pressure to bolster its defenses after a string of drone incursions attributed to Russia. On September 10, the country said that it had shot down at least three “hostile objects” in its airspace.
Warsaw, one of Ukraine’s staunchest backers since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, warned that Europe is close to an “open conflict” with Moscow if Russian aggression continues.
The United Nations Security Council earlier convened on the issue of Russian drone incursions into Poland. The meeting focused on the broader international concern that Russia’s drone campaign risks dragging NATO members directly into confrontation.
This new counter-drone training venture also coincided with Poland’s planned modernization of its drone program. Among the 200-million-zloty ($55 million) investment is the creation of a Drone Center under its Air Force Institute of Technology, which will be responsible for “testing, developing, and deploying unmanned systems.”
“The Drone Center is a place where Military Institutes, the Polish Army, companies, but also specialized units such as the Cyberspace Defense Forces Command will meet, in order to be able to supply the army with the best possible unmanned systems in one place and in a short time,” Cezary Tomczyk, Secretary of State for the Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement.
