Ukraine, a world leader in drone warfare, is beginning to export its technology to Europe, while facing ongoing challenges on the front lines.
In summary
Ukraine has reached a level of military drone production sufficient to begin exports to Europe, according to a report by ERR. These deliveries, approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky, are intended to support European armies against threats from state and non-state drones. This industrial breakthrough is a symbol of resilience for a country still facing intense fighting in the east and significant human losses. It also illustrates a form of technological rebalancing: Ukraine’s superiority in the field of drones contrasts with its difficulties in regaining the initiative on the ground in Donbas. The rise of this production could influence European defense strategies by offering affordable systems that have been tested in real-world conditions. However, it also highlights structural challenges, including a lack of experienced personnel and persistent logistical pressure on the front lines.
An industrial turning point for Ukrainian defense
ERR’s announcement marks a significant milestone: Ukraine is no longer just a user of drones in war, but an international supplier.
Ukrainian drones—particularly FPV (First Person View) models, loitering munitions, and long-range strike systems—have proven effective against Russian targets, including fuel depots and energy infrastructure. This combat-proven experience gives them direct operational value for foreign customers.
According to estimates by the Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation, domestic drone production increased more than 10-fold between 2022 and 2024, reaching an industrial level capable of equipping both the Ukrainian armed forces and external partners.
This development has been made possible by a local ecosystem combining technology start-ups, defense SMEs, and large industrial groups, supported by public funds and private investors.
A strategic tool for Europe in the face of the drone threat
The export of Ukrainian drones has geopolitical implications. European states, faced with incursions by state and non-state drones, often lack low-cost, rapidly produced solutions.
The example cited by Dmytro Zhmilo, director of the Center for Security and Cooperation, illustrates the challenge: a medium-sized country like Estonia could see its balance of power shift if it had hundreds of thousands of FPV drones capable of neutralizing armored vehicles or disrupting enemy units.
For European countries, these Ukrainian drones offer three major advantages:
- Affordable price compared to Western systems.
- Allied origin and proven in high-intensity warfare.
- Compatibility with territorial defense and saturation doctrines, which are essential when facing adversaries with significant ground forces.
The influence on European defense manufacturers
The arrival of Ukrainian products on the European market is both a challenge and an opportunity for European manufacturers.
Defense companies in Europe, often specializing in surveillance drones or expensive ammunition, must now compete with Ukrainian models that combine simplicity, efficiency, and low cost.
This could accelerate the transformation of the sector in Europe, with a rise in cheap tactical drones and loitering munitions that can be produced on a large scale.
European manufacturers will have to respond to this competition by adapting their offerings, investing in more agile production lines, and possibly collaborating with Ukrainian companies to pool research and development.
The development of large-scale production capacity in Ukraine could also influence EU programs, such as the ASAP (Act in Support of Ammunition Production) initiative, by expanding its scope to include unmanned systems.
A contrast between technological success and difficulties on the ground
Despite its success in the field of drones, Ukraine faces human and tactical limitations on the ground.
Testimonies from soldiers gathered near Pokrovsk reflect an army under strain. A significant portion of the forces are made up of conscripts, sometimes mobilized against their will, and the lack of experienced personnel is hampering the training of new recruits.
Artillery units report being under constant pressure, with leave becoming increasingly rare. This situation affects morale and the ability to maintain a prolonged effort on the front lines.
This dichotomy between success in technological warfare—notably in the strategic strike on Russian refineries—and stagnation in territorial gains in Donbass illustrates a structural imbalance in the current war.
The strategic impact of strikes on the Russian economy
Ukrainian drones are not only being used on the battlefield. They are also participating in an economic war aimed at reducing Moscow’s ability to sustain its military effort.
According to estimates relayed by Ukrainian officials, strikes against Russian refineries and gas stations have caused a 16% reduction in oil production and the closure of more than 360 gas stations.
This strategy aims to disrupt Russian logistics: by targeting fuel, Ukraine hopes to restrict the transport and supply capabilities of the opposing forces.
However, this strategic success has not yet produced any decisive advantages on the front lines, where the lines remain largely unchanged.
Logistical warfare and the vulnerability of supply lines
Both sides are now using drones to target enemy logistics lines.
A Ukrainian soldier nicknamed Kakhovka described the increasing difficulty of traveling on once-safe routes, such as the roads connecting Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, which are now under constant threat from Russian FPV drones.
This situation is exacerbating the war of attrition: even without a frontal breakthrough, the interdiction of logistics routes is disrupting the delivery of ammunition, fuel, and reinforcements, reducing the effectiveness of offensives and defenses.
The development and export of Ukrainian drones reflects this reality: the future of land warfare depends as much on the ability to cut off enemy logistics flows as on the conquest of territory.
A new paradigm for European defense
The boom in Ukrainian drone exports is prompting European armies to rethink their doctrines.
Recent wars have shown that swarms of inexpensive drones can cause difficulties for armies that are better equipped but slower to adapt.
The acquisition of Ukrainian drones could complement existing systems by providing rapid saturation capability to counter conventional or hybrid threats.
This also raises questions about future industrial cooperation: integrating Ukrainian expertise into the European defense complex could strengthen collective responsiveness to threats, but it requires overcoming regulatory and standardization obstacles.
An evolution that is reshaping the relationship between technology and manpower
The Ukrainian experience shows that technological superiority in drones does not completely replace the need for motivated and well-trained ground units.
The successes achieved against Russian infrastructure have not been enough to compensate for the lack of experienced infantry to carry out effective counter-offensives.
For Europe, this highlights the need to combine technological innovation with human preparedness, by strengthening both drone production capabilities and the training of troops in their tactical use.
The growing role of drones, combined with the erosion of available manpower, is transforming the relationship between the size of forces and their actual effectiveness on the ground.
Towards greater strategic interdependence between Ukraine and Europe
The export of Ukrainian drones to Europe is more than just a commercial exchange: it signals growing strategic interdependence.
Europe benefits from proven combat systems, while Ukraine gains revenue and industrial partnerships that can strengthen its own production and support its war effort.
As the conflict drags on, this relationship could evolve into more structured industrial cooperation, incorporating common standards and the pooling of research and production capabilities.
This would strengthen the continent’s resilience to future threats, whether from state actors or non-state organizations with armed drones.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.