Vilnius: Europe is not ready to deal effectively with a Russian drone attack and must integrate Ukraine’s “battle-tested” capabilities to better protect itself, EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius said Monday. The 27-nation bloc is scrambling to plug its drone defences after NATO jets shot down Russian drones over Poland in September.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Kubilius questioned the delay in bolstering defences, stating, “Why did it take us more than two years and the trigger of the Russian provocation with drones against Poland, and also against Baltic States and Romania, to understand that we are not ready to detect Russian drones and to destroy them with cost-effective means?” He emphasized the need for Europe to learn and adapt as Russia continues to refine its tactics.
In response to the incident in Poland, NATO has sent reinforcements to its eastern flank and is deploying more drone defences. The EU has announced plans to develop an anti-drone defence system, although details are still being worked out and any implementation will likely take years.
Kubilius stressed the importance of involving Ukraine and its experienced military force of approximately 800,000 personnel in Europe’s defence strategy. “If we do not do that, we shall make a historical mistake, which shall leave us weaker. And which shall leave Ukraine weaker,” he warned.
The urgency to enhance EU defences is heightened by concerns from European intelligence agencies that Russian President Vladimir Putin might consider attacking a NATO country if the war in Ukraine concludes.