WSJ: Ukrainian drone operators defeat US unit during exercise in Germany

During the Combined Resolve exercise in Germany, Ukrainian drone operators from the Nemesis unit – the 412th Brigade of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces – quickly detected and simulated strikes on vehicles belonging to a US mechanised brigade, demonstrating their advantage in the use of drones.

Source: European Pravda, citing The Wall Street Journal

Details: The Combined Resolve exercise in Germany, held in April and May, showed that the US troops from Texas taking part were unprepared for the capabilities of Ukrainian drone operators.

Under the exercise scenario, troops from a US mechanised brigade were advancing on the positions of a simulated enemy. Sources told the WSJ that the opposing force included Ukrainian drone operators from the 412th Nemesis Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces alongside various other units.

The Americans had standard electronic warfare and counter-drone systems. During the mechanised "assault", the Ukrainian pilots easily detected US vehicles and simulated attacks using drone-dropped munitions and FPV kamikaze drones. No live munitions were used, with a "hit" recorded when a drone manoeuvred extremely close to its target.

Ultimately, the attacking force was "destroyed" so quickly that troops deemed to have been hit were brought back into the exercise as reinforcements to keep the war game going.

Meanwhile, the exercise showed that the US drone operators lacked the skills to troubleshoot problems quickly and prepare drones in conditions resembling actual combat.

The exercise scenario was subsequently repeated, and the US troops learned to disperse more effectively, improve their camouflage and make better use of electronic warfare systems.

During subsequent iterations, the Ukrainian drone operators were moved to the other side and demonstrated how uncrewed technologies could be used in offensive operations.

General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, said that this kind of training experience cannot be replicated in the United States and that the changes seen after NATO exercises involving Ukrainians are significant.

According to one US source, this was not the first time Ukrainian troops had demonstrated an advantage while training against US forces. In 2023, one US officer involved in an exercise acknowledged that the US already had much to learn from Ukrainian forces about the use of drones and developed a training programme that was subsequently introduced in US units.

Background:

• In May 2025, Ukrainian drone operators defeated a simulated enemy during exercises in the Baltics, with British, Estonian and US troops on the opposing side (apparently referring to Hedgehog 2025).
• In spring 2026, Ukrainian UAV operators taking part in NATO exercises on Gotland "defeated" the Swedish troops tasked with opposing them.

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