A Ukrainian soldier who took half within the Hedgehog 2025 workouts has stated the drills confirmed that NATO troops don’t totally perceive the risk posed by drones or how you can reply on the battlefield.
Supply: Nick, commander of a UAV platoon within the 412nd Nemesis brigade, in an interview with hromadske, a Ukrainian public broadcaster
Quote: "The infantry reacted weakly to approaching threats. In some instances they tried to disperse, in some they didn’t. They didn’t perceive it was a risk. We advised them it shouldn’t be like that. If there’s a risk from the sky, it is advisable take cowl as rapidly as attainable and take into consideration what sort of shelter to take so you aren’t marked from above, as a result of if you’re noticed, take into account that you’ll be 200-ed [killed – ed.] in a jiffy."
Particulars: Nick stated the pilots' main activity was to hit gear. As they flew in the direction of targets, the pilots generally noticed 10 NATO troops standing close by with out reacting to a drone within the sky. In such instances, Nick stated he went to the commander and requested him to order the infantry to disperse, offering suggestions throughout the train.
Quote: "After they pulled right into a holding space, they didn’t disperse the automobiles. They had been parked pretty shut, 30-50 metres aside. So that you fly into the grid sq. and also you don't even have to look. You may see the focus at a look and decide it off methodically."
Extra particulars: Nick led a bunch of the Nemesis brigade's pilots. The Ukrainian drone operators ran the situation alongside a grouping in a defensive place. One other group attacked and needed to be stopped, after which the primary group counterattacked. The drill ran for 5 days.
Quote: "We carried out strike missions, logistics missions laying mines on roads and numerous humanitarian missions for our companions' infantry models – supplying meals, drones, even carrying sleeping luggage to the lads, as a result of it was coaching near actuality. Items went out to the vary and nobody introduced something to them by car."
Extra particulars: Ukrainian pilots had been tasked with "destroying" gear. At companions' request, dummy munitions had been dropped not on the goal itself however 10-15 metres away to keep away from injuring anybody. The facet supported by the Ukrainian drone pilots gained the train.
Quote: "We weren’t shocked – simply pleasantly stunned at how simple it was for us to work by the entire thing. I understood that till you reside by it, you’ll not perceive it. Particularly since our battlefield adjustments continuously and the kill zone simply retains increasing."
Extra particulars: After the fight sport ended, Ukrainian troopers crammed out an after-action evaluation type.
Quote: "They got interested and understood that it not works like that, that ways want to alter. These generals on whose facet we labored thanked us for coming from the entrance, taking our time and coming to assist them."
Extra particulars: Nick stated Estonia, the place the train passed off, is actively creating its drone functionality and exhibiting robust curiosity in UAVs. Estonian forces, he stated, used Mavic drones throughout the drills.
Background: The Wall Avenue Journal reported earlier {that a} group of Ukrainian troops "routed" NATO forces with drones throughout workouts in Estonia in spring 2025.
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