In a move that underscores the shifting landscape of European security, Ukraine has begun deploying a military mission in Denmark to share its hard-won expertise in drone defense, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on September 30, 2025. This initiative comes as European nations scramble to catch up with the rapidly evolving tactics of drone warfare that have defined the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia since Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022.
"Our military has begun deploying a mission in Denmark to disseminate Ukrainian experience in drone defense," Zelenskyy stated, as reported by the Associated Press. He emphasized the significance of Ukraine’s role, adding, "Ukrainian (drone) experience is the most relevant in Europe right now, and it is our experience, our specialists, and our technologies that could become a key element of the future European ‘drone wall’ — a large-scale project that will guarantee safety in the sky."
The urgency behind this deployment is clear. Over the past week, European defense ministers reached an agreement to construct what they have dubbed a "drone wall" along their borders with Russia and Ukraine. The aim: to detect, track, and intercept drones that violate European airspace. Yet, as Zelenskyy pointed out, the continent’s readiness and technology in drone warfare still lag significantly behind the capabilities demonstrated by both Ukraine and Russia during three years of relentless conflict.
Denmark, the host of Ukraine’s mission, has recently found itself at the epicenter of drone-related anxiety. The country reported a series of drone sightings at sensitive military facilities—including Skrydstrup Air Base, the Jutland Dragoon Regiment base, and Karup Air Base, Denmark’s largest military installation. Some of these incidents forced the closure of airports, prompting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to describe the event that shut down Copenhagen Airport as "the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date," according to Reuters.
Danish intelligence officials, while careful not to point fingers directly, have assessed the risk of Russian espionage and sabotage in Denmark as high. This heightened threat perception is not limited to Denmark alone. Poland, too, has turned to Ukraine for guidance after Russian drones breached its airspace, seeking to tap into the practical knowledge Ukrainian forces have accumulated on the battlefield.
Zelenskyy made it clear that the results of the Ukrainian mission in Denmark will set the precedent for broader European cooperation. "The results of the mission in Denmark will shape the framework for cooperation with other European countries as well," he said, as reported by Euronews. The sentiment was echoed by Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal and Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who earlier in September announced the formation of a joint task force to deploy uncrewed systems, exchange military experiences, and enhance interoperability between their countries’ armed forces.
The stakes are not merely theoretical. The war’s grim realities were brought into sharp relief when a Russian drone strike killed an entire family of four—a young married couple and their two sons, aged four and six—in the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine. "This is a terrible and irreparable loss for the entire community and the region," wrote regional administration head Oleh Hryhorov on Telegram. "The death of the family … is a tragedy we will never forget or forgive." In Dnipro, another drone attack claimed one life and left at least 20 injured, local governor Serhii Lysak reported.
These attacks, Zelenskyy argued, are a stark reminder of the urgent need for robust, continent-wide defenses. "All of us in Europe must build a reliable defense against Russian drones and missiles — so that no country stands alone against this threat," he insisted. The message resonated across European capitals, where the specter of conflict spilling beyond Ukraine’s borders is fueling a sense of vulnerability.
NATO, for its part, is not standing idle. The alliance has ramped up aerial surveillance in the Baltic Sea, particularly in anticipation of two major summits in Copenhagen in early October. France, Germany, and Sweden have also stepped in to bolster Denmark’s air defenses. Estonia, meanwhile, requested NATO Article 4 consultations after Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated its airspace and lingered over the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes—a move Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal described as "totally unacceptable."
Denmark has responded to the heightened drone threat by banning all civilian drone flights from Monday to Friday (October 6 to October 10, 2025), a measure intended to prevent confusion between legal and hostile drones. "We cannot accept that foreign drones create uncertainty and disturbances in society, as we have experienced recently," said Danish Transportation Minister Thomas Danielsen, according to the Danish transportation ministry. He added, "At the same time, Denmark will host EU leaders in the coming week, where we will have extra focus on security."
Yet, even as Europe fortifies its defenses, the diplomatic front appears stalled. Peace negotiations, set in motion by the United States months ago, have made little progress. The continuing violations of European airspace by Russian warplanes—alongside the relentless drone attacks—have only deepened mistrust, making meaningful dialogue seem ever more remote.
The Kremlin, for its part, is unimpressed by Europe’s defensive posture. Reacting to the "drone wall" plans, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked, "History shows that building walls is always bad." He went on to criticize what he described as a "militarist approach," urging instead for dialogue and joint security guarantees.
Despite these criticisms, European leaders appear resolute. The lessons learned from Ukraine’s grueling defense against Russian drones are now seen as indispensable for the continent’s security. The collaboration unfolding in Denmark may well become the blueprint for a new era of European defense—one where borders are protected not just by soldiers, but by the digital eyes and swift response of drone technology.
As the skies over Europe grow ever more contested, the partnership between Ukraine and its European neighbors is being tested in real time. The outcome of these efforts will shape the region’s security for years to come, as nations grapple with the realities of modern warfare and the imperative to shield their citizens from threats both seen and unseen.