In a significant move to bolster regional security, Ukraine and Poland have announced a joint initiative to counter drone threats, following a recent incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace. Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal revealed the collaboration during a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday, alongside his Polish counterpart, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz. The partnership will focus on training Polish troops and engineers in advanced drone interception techniques, leveraging Ukraine’s expertise in combating massed Russian drone attacks. Shmyhal emphasized that the training would encompass the entire ‘ecosystem’ of drone defense, from electronic jamming to deploying interceptor drones. Ukraine will also share its systems for tracking Russian aerial targets with Poland, enhancing early detection capabilities. The joint exercises will take place at a training ground in Lipa, southern Poland. This initiative comes after more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on September 9-10, prompting NATO jets to intercept them. While Russia claimed the drones were targeting Ukraine, the incident has heightened concerns in Warsaw about Moscow’s intentions. Ukraine’s layered defense system, which includes interceptor drones, heavy machine guns, and electronic warfare, has proven effective against Russian drone swarms, offering a cost-efficient solution compared to traditional missile interceptions.
