Ukraine’s battle-hardened military is exporting its hard-won expertise in drone warfare to Europe, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the deployment of Ukrainian specialists to Denmark on October 1, 2025. This move, reported by multiple agencies including SOFREP and reinforced by official statements, marks a pivotal moment in the continent’s rapidly escalating efforts to defend itself against Russian aerial threats.
"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 stated, as cited by SOFREP. His words capture the urgency and ambition behind a broader European initiative: the construction of a so-called “drone wall” along the borders with Russia and Ukraine, designed to bolster detection and interception capabilities across the continent.
Europe’s scramble to close its drone defense gap is not just theoretical. Denmark, where Ukrainian experts are now on the ground, has recently reported a string of drone sightings near sensitive military installations and airports. Poland, too, has sought Ukrainian guidance after Russian drones violated its airspace, underscoring the cross-border nature of the threat. The situation is so acute that NATO has stepped up aerial surveillance in the Baltic Sea, with France, Germany, and Sweden all contributing to the reinforcement of Danish air defenses. According to SOFREP, these measures come amid growing fears of Russian airspace violations and the potential for wider escalation.
The Kremlin, as expected, has pushed back against Europe’s new defensive posture. On October 1, 2025, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the “drone wall” concept, branding it a “militarist step” and warning, “history shows that building walls is always bad.” Peskov instead advocated for dialogue, but European capitals appear determined to act, especially as Ukraine’s own experience has shown the devastating potential of unchecked drone warfare.
That experience is tragically fresh. On September 30, 2025, Ukrainian authorities in the northeastern Sumy region reported a Russian strike that killed a family of four, including two young children. The same day, a rare daytime Russian drone attack struck the city center of Dnipro, killing one man and injuring 20 others. The attack, which damaged medical facilities, residential blocks, and office buildings, set an office tower ablaze during working hours, according to local officials cited by SOFREP. President Zelenskyy condemned the assault in stark terms, calling for tougher international sanctions against Russia and urging, "Let’s keep protecting Ukraine from these barbaric war criminals."
Dnipro, a major industrial and business hub in southeastern Ukraine, has been a frequent target since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. The attacks are not just isolated tragedies; they are part of a relentless campaign that has forced Ukraine to innovate rapidly in drone defense and countermeasures. Now, that knowledge is being shared with European partners who fear they could be next.
The urgency of the situation extends beyond drone strikes. On September 30, 2025, Zelenskyy issued a grave warning about the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest. For a week—an unprecedented duration—the plant had been without external power due to ongoing Russian shelling, preventing the restoration of the electricity needed to cool its reactors. “It is now the seventh day – something that has never happened before – of an emergency situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Because of Russian shelling, the plant has been cut off from power, disconnected from the electrical grid, and is being supplied with…,” Zelenskyy said, as reported by SOFREP. One of the plant’s emergency diesel generators had already failed by September 30, raising the specter of a catastrophic meltdown. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the outage and reiterated its calls for both sides to protect nuclear safety, with monitors stationed at the facility. Since the start of Russia’s invasion, the plant has been disconnected from Ukraine’s power grid ten times, a stark reminder of the ongoing nuclear risk hanging over the region.
Europe’s response to these threats is multifaceted. The deployment of Ukrainian specialists to Denmark is not simply a gesture of solidarity; it’s a recognition that Ukraine’s battlefield experience is invaluable for countries now facing similar dangers. “This deployment supports a European initiative to build a 'drone wall' along borders with Russia and Ukraine to improve drone defense,” reported BBC and SOFREP. The goal is to create a networked system capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralizing hostile drones before they can inflict damage—a challenge that grows more complex as drone technology becomes cheaper and more accessible.
Poland’s request for Ukrainian expertise highlights the regional dimension of the problem. Russian drones have repeatedly crossed into Polish airspace, raising alarm bells in Warsaw and prompting calls for a coordinated European response. NATO’s decision to increase surveillance in the Baltic and reinforce Danish defenses is a clear signal that the alliance is taking the threat seriously. France, Germany, and Sweden’s involvement in bolstering Denmark’s air defenses demonstrates a willingness among key European powers to invest in collective security, even as they grapple with their own domestic political pressures.
Yet, not everyone is convinced that building a “drone wall” is the right answer. The Kremlin’s Dmitry Peskov derided the project as a “militarist step,” warning that “history shows that building walls is always bad.” He called instead for dialogue, though European leaders argue that action is necessary in the face of persistent Russian aggression. The debate reflects deeper divisions over how best to achieve security in a rapidly changing technological landscape—one where drones, both lethal and surveillance-oriented, are rewriting the rules of engagement.
For Ukraine, the export of its drone defense expertise is both a necessity and a point of pride. After years of suffering and adapting under relentless attack, Ukrainian forces have developed tactics and technologies that are now in high demand. As Zelenskyy put it, Ukraine’s knowledge “could become the foundation for a new system to counter Russian and any other drones.” The stakes are high—not just for Ukraine, but for all of Europe. As drone warfare becomes ever more central to modern conflict, the continent’s ability to adapt and defend itself may depend on lessons learned in the crucible of Ukraine’s ongoing war.
With Ukrainian specialists now on the ground in Denmark and drone defense climbing the agenda across Europe, the battle for the skies is entering a new phase. Whether a “drone wall” can hold back the tide remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the era of drone warfare has arrived, and Europe is racing to catch up.
