Ukrainian drone pilots impressed NATO commanders during Hedgehog exercises
A Ukrainian soldier who took part in the Hedgehog 2025 exercises has said the drills showed that NATO troops do not fully understand the threat posed by drones or how to respond on the battlefield.
Source: Nick, commander of a UAV platoon in the 412nd Nemesis brigade, in an interview with hromadske, a Ukrainian public broadcaster
Quote: "The infantry reacted weakly to approaching threats. In some cases they tried to disperse, in some they did not. They did not understand it was a threat. We told them it should not be like that. If there is a threat from the sky, you need to take cover as quickly as possible and think about what kind of shelter to take so you are not marked from above, because if you are spotted, consider that you will be 200-ed [killed – ed.] in a jiffy."
Details: Nick said the pilots' primary task was to hit equipment. As they flew towards targets, the pilots sometimes saw 10 NATO troops standing nearby without reacting to a drone in the sky. In such cases, Nick said he went to the commander and asked him to order the infantry to disperse, providing feedback during the exercise.
Quote: "When they pulled into a holding area, they did not disperse the vehicles. They were parked fairly close, 30-50 metres apart. So you fly into the grid square and you don't even have to search. You can see the concentration at a glance and pick it off methodically."
More details: Nick led a group of the Nemesis brigade's pilots. The Ukrainian drone operators ran the scenario alongside a grouping in a defensive position. Another group attacked and had to be stopped, after which the first group counterattacked. The drill ran for five days.
Quote: "We carried out strike missions, logistics missions laying mines on roads and quite a lot of humanitarian missions for our partners' infantry units – supplying food, drones, even carrying sleeping bags to the lads, because it was training close to reality. Units went out to the range and no one brought anything to them by vehicle."
More details: Ukrainian pilots were tasked with "destroying" equipment. At partners' request, dummy munitions were dropped not on the target itself but 10-15 metres away to avoid injuring anyone. The side supported by the Ukrainian drone pilots won the exercise.
Quote: "We were not shocked – just pleasantly surprised at how easy it was for us to work through the whole thing. I understood that until you live through it, you will not understand it. Especially since our battlefield changes constantly and the kill zone just keeps expanding."
More details: After the combat game ended, Ukrainian soldiers filled out an after-action review form.
Quote: "They became interested and understood that it no longer works like that, that tactics need to change. Those generals on whose side we worked thanked us for coming from the front, taking our time and coming to help them."
More details: Nick said Estonia, where the exercise took place, is actively developing its drone capability and showing strong interest in UAVs. Estonian forces, he said, used Mavic drones during the drills.
Background: The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that a group of Ukrainian troops "routed" NATO forces with drones during exercises in Estonia in spring 2025.
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