Denmark could become the first European nation to send troops to Ukraine to train its own military personnel in the use of combat drones on the battlefield. This initiative, reported on April 16, 2025, by Danish public broadcaster TV2, has sparked mixed reactions internationally and within Danish military institutions. According to statements by Major General Peter Boysen, Chief of Staff of the Danish Armed Forces, the objective would be to send unarmed troops to Ukraine for short training sessions focused primarily on observing and learning the drone warfare tactics employed by Ukrainian forces.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Denmark has been one of the most committed European supporters of Ukraine, with military and humanitarian aid representing 2.3% of its gross domestic product, according to data from the Kiel Institute. (Picture source: Danish MoD )
Boysen stressed that these teams, drawn from various Danish regiments, would not participate in combat operations but rather witness firsthand “the level of experience and competence of the Ukrainians” in the use of drones on the battlefield. He indicated that the sessions, planned for this summer, would be held at training centers located in western Ukraine, likely near Lviv, and would last from one to two weeks. These sessions would be conducted far from active combat zones, and Boysen emphasized the relative safety of the locations, citing the availability of early warning systems and adequate shelters in case of Russian missile attacks.
The announcement quickly drew a negative response from Russia. The Russian Embassy in Denmark stated that the initiative runs counter to ongoing efforts toward a political and diplomatic resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. It also warned of risks to the safety of Danish soldiers, claiming they could be considered “legitimate targets” by Russian forces. In this tense context, the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine, even in a strictly observational or training capacity, is viewed by Moscow as a provocation.
The Danish Ministry of Defence, however, sought to temper the reports circulated by the media. In an official statement issued on April 16, Defence Command Denmark clarified that there are currently “no plans or decisions to deploy Danish soldiers for short-term courses or training in Ukraine.” According to this clarification, Boysen’s remarks were part of broader reflections on potential ways to enhance the Danish military’s operational experience-gathering program. This program, already underway for several months, involves sending Danish personnel, mainly at command level, into Ukraine to observe battlefield realities and draw lessons from them.
Defence Command confirmed that two high-level visits took place in February, during which Ukrainian counterparts proposed the idea of Danish soldiers participating in training sessions in Ukraine. They also offered to send Ukrainian specialists to Denmark. However, as Boysen reiterated, “no decision has been made” regarding the participation of Danish soldiers in such training. At this stage, it remains only option being considered as part of Denmark’s efforts to benefit from Ukraine’s experience in drone warfare.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Denmark has been one of the most committed European supporters of Ukraine, with military and humanitarian aid representing 2.3% of its gross domestic product, according to data from the Kiel Institute. This involvement includes arms deliveries, consistent political support, and knowledge exchange. Denmark’s growing interest in Ukrainian drone tactics reflects the rapid evolution of modern warfare, with drones now accounting for more than 70% of the losses suffered by Ukrainian forces due to Russian attacks, according to Boysen.
This desire to closely observe Ukrainian methods fits into a broader trend: since the outset of the large-scale conflict, many Western countries, including Denmark, have sought to extract practical lessons from Ukraine’s battlefield experience. The country has become a real-world laboratory for contemporary warfare, where the widespread use of drones, electronic warfare, multi-layered air defense systems, real-time intelligence integration, and logistical adaptation in contested environments offer a rare window into the future of armed conflict. European armed forces are particularly interested in Ukraine’s ability to combine fast execution, low-cost innovations, and operational resilience in high-intensity war zones.
In this context, directly observing Ukrainian tactics helps inform doctrinal reflection and modernization efforts across multiple branches of the armed forces, well beyond the domain of drones. Several countries are also assessing implications for troop training, individual equipment, low-altitude air defense, and hybrid threat response. The growing interest in Ukraine’s combat lessons reflects a collective effort to adapt national capabilities to an evolving operational environment where technological superiority alone no longer guarantees battlefield dominance.