The Russian drone attack on Poland in September led European partners to listen much more attentively to Ukraine\u2019s explanations of its role in collective security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukraine\u2019s Ambassador to NATO, Alona Hetmanchuk, stated this during a meeting with journalists in Brussels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the diplomat, the attack ultimately backfired on Russia, as Ukraine\u2019s arguments began to resonate more strongly. \u201cIf Putin wanted to divert attention from Ukraine with these attacks, it seems he once again miscalculated \u2014 in fact, he only drew even more attention to us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most important change, she said, is that NATO now has a greater understanding that Ukraine is an asset for the continent\u2019s collective security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have long said: \u2018Ukraine is a contributor to Euro-Atlantic security; we have unique experience.\u2019 But only now \u2014 after the drone attack on Poland and the violation of other NATO countries\u2019 airspace \u2014 our partners in the Alliance have started to see this differently. There\u2019s growing interest in our expertise, our knowledge, and the lessons we\u2019ve learned over more than three and a half years of full-scale war,\u201d Hetmanchuk explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The issue of Ukraine\u2019s experience in repelling drone attacks is expected to be one of the key topics at the Ukraine\u2013NATO Council meeting at the level of defense ministers on Wednesday \u2014 a meeting that will, for the first time, be attended by Ukraine\u2019s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Hetmanchuk, NATO partners have already submitted requests: \u201cAfter 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\u2019re interested in seeing the progression \u2014 from how we shot down the first few drones to the progress we\u2019ve made today, when there are hundreds of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the Ukraine\u2013NATO Council will allow discussions of Ukraine\u2019s defense plans at the ministerial level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019 armed forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ukrainian military personnel have also deployed a mission in Denmark to share Ukraine\u2019s experience in countering enemy drones with their colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n