Expert Panel Discusses Ukraine's Drone Warfare Evolution and Europe's Response to Russian Threats
A panel of experts, including Lesia Ogryzko, Leo Litra, Lyuba Shipovich, and Gustav Gressel, gathered on September 24th, 2025, to discuss the evolving role of drone technology in warfare and Europe's response to Russian drone incursions. The conversation centered around Ukraine's military evolution, NATO training, and cost-effective air defense systems.
Since the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine's military has transformed its drone capabilities. It has moved from using hobby quadcopters to integrating drone and robot units in almost every brigade. The discussion focused on creating a multi-layered, cost-effective air defense system against drones. One such system, Eirshield, has been deployed in Ukraine with foreign weapon integrations. It targets fast, unmanned drones carrying explosives at speeds over 200 km/h, costing tens of thousands of euros per use, a fraction of older air defense systems costing millions. Training Ukraine and NATO states on such systems can be rapid due to their modular design, with funding partly sourced from EU research contracts and defense clusters. Efforts to reduce dependency on Chinese components involve increased EU investments and local production initiatives.
Financing gaps and reducing dependence on Chinese components in both Europe and Ukraine's defense sectors were also discussed. The panelists highlighted the impact of technology on military tactics and Europe's response to Russian drone incursions.
The panel's insights underscore the importance of evolving drone technology in modern warfare. Ukraine's military advancements and the deployment of cost-effective air defense systems like Eirshield demonstrate a proactive response to Russian drone threats. The discussion also highlighted the need for international cooperation in training and reducing dependence on foreign components in defense sectors.
