Today at 20:01
The Russian drone attack on Poland in September led European partners to listen much more attentively to Ukraine’s explanations of its role in collective security.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to NATO, Alona Hetmanchuk, stated this during a meeting with journalists in Brussels.
According to the diplomat, the attack ultimately backfired on Russia, as Ukraine’s arguments began to resonate more strongly. “If Putin wanted to divert attention from Ukraine with these attacks, it seems he once again miscalculated — in fact, he only drew even more attention to us,” she added.
The most important change, she said, is that NATO now has a greater understanding that Ukraine is an asset for the continent’s collective security.
“We have long said: ‘Ukraine is a contributor to Euro-Atlantic security; we have unique experience.’ But only now — after the drone attack on Poland and the violation of other NATO countries’ airspace — our partners in the Alliance have started to see this differently. There’s growing interest in our expertise, our knowledge, and the lessons we’ve learned over more than three and a half years of full-scale war,” Hetmanchuk explained.
The issue of Ukraine’s experience in repelling drone attacks is expected to be one of the key topics at the Ukraine–NATO Council meeting at the level of defense ministers on Wednesday — a meeting that will, for the first time, be attended by Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
According to Hetmanchuk, NATO partners have already submitted requests: “After the drone attack on Poland, ministers want to hear about the key lessons and conclusions Ukraine has drawn over these three and a half years of war. They’re interested in seeing the progression — from how we shot down the first few drones to the progress we’ve made today, when there are hundreds of them.”
Additionally, the Ukraine–NATO Council will allow discussions of Ukraine’s defense plans at the ministerial level.
As a reminder, in September Ukraine and Poland agreed to establish a joint operational group on unmanned aerial systems, which will include representatives of both countries’ armed forces.
Ukrainian military personnel have also deployed a mission in Denmark to share Ukraine’s experience in countering enemy drones with their colleagues.
Read also: Zelenskyy explains how the purchase of Tomahawks will be financed if the decision is approved
