US trains Polish special forces using lessons from Ukraine's war against Russia – AP

US forces have begun training Polish special forces in Germany using exercises designed to "simulate many of the challenges" of Russia's war against Ukraine.

Source: Associated Press

Details: Polish special forces are taking part in exercises designed only a few months ago which simulate breaking through enemy lines, travelling for miles through hostile territory and using drones to strike a key enemy target.

Associated Press noted that the exercises, initially developed by US Army Green Berets for American special operations units, began on Friday 28 August and incorporate and simulate many of the challenges faced by Ukrainian forces in the war against Russia.

"We're using lessons learned from Ukraine," a US Army Green Beret officer attached to the training facility said. "All of those effects that we're seeing either Russia or Ukraine having to overcome – we're doing our best to replicate."

The exercises highlight efforts by some US military units to study the latest methods of drone warfare, which Ukraine has pioneered during more than four years of fighting to repel the full-scale invasion launched by Russia. They also demonstrate how the US, its NATO allies and Ukraine are working together to prepare for the possibility of further Russian aggression in the coming years, even as US President Donald Trump's administration has warned of troop reductions in Europe.

During the exercises in Germany, a senior soldier told AP that similar training is planned to take place several times a year.

A participant and officer involved in the exercises told AP that they expect most, if not all, NATO countries to be interested in sending troops to take part.

The exercise scenario lasts several days and takes place across a vast 3,000-square-kilometre training area in the Bavarian countryside.

The Polish special forces are expected to sneak past a US Army airborne infantry unit whose soldiers will play the role of the enemy. The US airborne unit will parachute into a restricted training area at the Hohenfels base and establish itself on the line of contact.

If the Polish troops manage to get past the US forces, they must head north, travelling about 100 km through the German countryside to another training area in Grafenwöhr, where they are expected to destroy a simulated target.

German farms and villages, private and government-operated cameras and a densely populated town lie along the route. These not only create obstacles but also increase the likelihood of the Polish troops being spotted.

A senior serviceman told AP that during earlier stages of the exercises, the Green Berets removed their uniforms "so they can blend in", adding that "blend in also means don't get seen by civilians".

AP added that local German civilians are largely unaware of the exercises and provide a useful test of how effectively special forces can blend into the local population. If they fail, reports of suspicious individuals made to the police will be passed to the military, which will use them to pinpoint the group's location.

The US Army will also use its own drones to search for the Polish units.

If they are detected, "now you have the entire Russian arsenal coming at you", a US soldier said.

The US Army could either send a military police unit with dogs to search for the Polish special forces or deploy additional drones to the area. In previous versions of the exercise, the US Army had more than 100 drones at its disposal, the soldier said.

As part of the exercises, servicemen may be "captured or killed".

AP noted that while the exercises demonstrate the use of drones and NATO teamwork, there have recently been differing views within military circles about the importance of cooperation and the value of drones.

Trump has caused confusion among NATO allies by repeatedly changing his position on possible reductions in the number of US troops stationed in Europe, while his administration has begun a review of US military forces to determine its next steps. Last week, the US Army's top military commander also disbanded a unit specialising in drone warfare.

Quote from AP: "But overall, there is growing interest in tapping Ukraine for its expertise on modern warfare and, specifically, drones."

Details: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in March that Ukraine was helping five countries in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf counter Iranian drone attacks carried out during the US war against Iran. Those seeking assistance included both the US and European countries.

Meanwhile, the number of mysterious drone incursions across Europe has increased, including this month, when two drones were spotted over a German military base and a drone carrying explosives was discovered at one of Germany's key cargo airports.

Background:

• 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 superiority in the use of drones.
• 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.

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