NATO is increasingly integrating Ukrainian drone operators into its military exercises to replicate battlefield conditions shaped by the war against Russia.
The alliance’s top military official Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said in an interview with RBC-Ukraine that Ukrainian personnel are regularly tasked with simulating drone attacks against allied units during training.
The aim is to expose allied forces to the operational impact of unmanned systems and test their readiness against evolving threats, while replicating tactics and conditions observed in the conflict.
In one example cited by Dragone, a small Ukrainian team disrupted a much larger allied formation during an exercise.
In that scenario, NATO units, including troops from the UK and Estonia, were conducting a mechanized advance across open terrain.
Limited use of concealment made vehicles and positions vulnerable, allowing drone operators to simulate strikes on multiple targets.
Within a few hours, the team conducted around 30 simulated attacks and hit 17 armored vehicles, showcasing how small drone units can challenge larger conventional forces.
Ukraine’s Growing Role
Ukraine’s role is shifting from being a recipient of security assistance to an active contributor, with battlefield experience increasingly shaping Western training and procurement.
In recent months, Kyiv has been revising its export policies and expanding defense cooperation, granting initial permits to domestic firms as part of plans to establish up to 10 weapons export hubs across Europe.
Within this context, NATO is adapting its doctrine based on lessons from the war in Ukraine, while continuing to view Russia as its main long-term threat and anticipating further military buildup.
Earlier this year, around 3,000 NATO troops, including forces from Spain and Turkey, took part in an exercise on Germany’s Baltic coast aimed at demonstrating readiness to deter Russia.
The drill involved German Eurofighter jets, 15 naval vessels, Spanish combat divers, and Turkish units operating Zaha amphibious assault vehicles.
