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German Army to Learn Drone Warfare From Ukrainian Battlefield Veterans
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian service members with frontline combat experience are expected to begin training soldiers of Germany’s armed forces in the near future, focusing on drone operations, counter-drone tactics, and battlefield coordination systems.
According to Der Spiegel on February 16, Germany’s Defense Ministry plans to involve Ukrainian military personnel in the training of Bundeswehr units as part of efforts to strengthen Germany’s operational readiness.
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The agreement was signed last Friday, February 13, by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Der Spiegel reported that Ukrainian instructors are expected to arrive in Germany as soon as possible and will initially work with infantry units. For security reasons, further details about the structure and location of the training have not been disclosed.
According to Der Spiegel, representatives of the Bundeswehr confirmed that negotiations with Ukraine have been ongoing since 2025 regarding how Germany could benefit from Ukraine’s practical combat experience.
The outlet quoted army officials as stating: “Currently, no one in NATO has more combat experience than Ukraine, and we must make use of it.”
A Bundeswehr spokesperson, cited by Der Spiegel, said the plan provides for “the integration of Ukrainian military experience into the training of land forces at army educational institutions.”
According to Der Spiegel, the program will focus on Ukraine’s experience in the use of drones and protection against drone attacks, as well as operational planning supported by mobile applications.
The publication noted that Ukrainian forces have developed relatively simple battlefield planning and command systems that can operate as applications on standard mobile phones. These systems are used not only for combat coordination but also for logistics, including ammunition supply and medical evacuation.
Unlike some Bundeswehr systems designed in peacetime and described as technically complex, Ukrainian digital tools have been tested under active combat conditions and are continuously adapted on the battlefield.
Earlier, a small team of around ten Ukrainian drone operators participating in the Hedgehog exercise in Estonia simulated the destruction of 17 armored vehicles and carried out roughly 30 additional strikes within half a day while acting as an opposing force.
The outcome was described as “terrible” for NATO forces, with the larger formation—comprising several thousand troops, including a British brigade and an Estonian division—reportedly unable to detect the Ukrainian drone teams during the scenario.
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-c439b7bd9030ecf9d5a4287dc361ba31.jpg "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
