Recent months have seen an increase in the frequency of drones in European countries, particularly Ukraine and neighboring nations, which has generated some concern. In this context, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered to share the experience his country has gained over the past three years of war against Russia, with the aim of increasing the defense effectiveness of allies. This represents an opportunity for countries to modernize their aerial surveillance and combat systems.
Ukrainian drone expertise could be key to a European defense wall
Throughout human evolution, warfare has undergone constant changes as technology advances. In the case of the war launched in 2022 by Russia, aiming to invade Ukrainian territory, the use of drones was a central point of modern combat. With numerous benefits due to their small size, agility, and low production costs, they have become an extremely valuable option for the effectiveness of large-scale military operations.
Given the current situation, in which Russian drones are reported in other European countries, Zelenskyy reported that the knowledge acquired by Ukraine is already being put into practice outside its territory. A Ukrainian mission was sent to Denmark to share tactics and technologies in joint exercises. The goal is to contribute to the so-called “Drone Wall” — a European project that seeks to erect a technological barrier against unmanned aircraft along its eastern borders.
For Zelenskyy, sharing this experience is an opportunity to accelerate this barrier plan. Necessity has driven Ukraine’s development in these technologies to a significant extent, while the rest of Europe is still discussing the implementation of more modern systems. Ukraine has achieved neutralization rates of over 90% against Russian drones, combining air defense, patrols, signal jammers, and mobile radars.
Reports of drones in European airspace increase, and pressure for answers
The reasons that led to this Ukrainian move with other countries are clear: Violations have been frequent in neighboring countries such as Denmark, Poland, and Romania. A practical example, and a direct consequence of these violations, was the temporary closure of airports in Copenhagen after unidentified and unauthorized overflights were identified.
Despite concerns about pointing the finger directly at Russia, intelligence experts consider the likelihood of espionage and sabotage high. Zelenskyy believes there are indications that drones may even be launched from tankers in the Baltic Sea, which would significantly reduce neighboring countries’ response time.
International cooperation seeks to reduce gaps and create a collective shield
Ukraine’s offer to share its expertise in this area has already been responded to by several countries. Germany, France, Serbia, and the United Kingdom have announced they will send troops, radars, and anti-drone systems to support Denmark in this process. Poland, on the other hand, maintains close dialogue with Kyiv, interested in reinforcing its border after recording multiple aerial violations.
“Our group of specialists has begun deploying a mission in Denmark to share Ukraine’s experience in countering drones. Our guys arrived to take part in the joint exercises with partners, which could become the foundation for a new system to counter Russian and any other drones.” Zelenskyy
Ukrainian experience can guide innovative collective response
Diplomatically, European leaders began to frame the incursions as a test of the region’s security and, by extension, NATO itself. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that this is “a new kind of war” that requires a joint response from the transatlantic community.
Ukraine’s offer is just another demonstration of the impact that drone technologies have had on attack and counterattacks in these conflicts, which now pose risks to other countries as well. For Zelenskyy, transforming the experience gained into joint action could be key to reducing risks and demonstrating that, faced with new types of warfare, the response must also be innovative.