NATO is potentially more than a decade behind Russia's military capabilities, a top military official has claimed, following a recent war game exercise in Estonia where a Ukrainian drone unit decimated a British brigade. Ukraine's former commander-in-chief, Valerii Zaluzhny, has stated that NATO is still operating under a World War II-era mindset and needs significant time to adapt to modern warfare.
During the Hedgehog 2025 military exercise, which involved over 16,000 troops from 12 NATO countries, a ten-person Ukrainian drone unit reportedly destroyed 17 armored vehicles and an entire British brigade. The exercise simulated a battlefield environment that was 'contested and congested' with various drones. The Ukrainian team utilized the Delta battlefield-management system, which integrates real-time intelligence gathering and artificial intelligence to coordinate strikes and identify targets.
One participant in the exercise described the opposing force as "just walking around, not using any kind of disguise, parking tents and armoured vehicles," highlighting a potential lack of tactical awareness from the NATO forces. Analysts estimate that drones are responsible for approximately 70 percent of casualties in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, underscoring their critical role in modern warfare. In response, European allies have reportedly begun increasing drone production and training their forces in unmanned warfare.
Zaluzhny, considered a highly trusted figure in Ukraine, has previously warned that it could take NATO over a decade to reach even half of Russia's current military strength. He noted that Ukrainian forces possess superior combat experience and adaptability compared to NATO armies, which he believes are still adhering to outdated doctrines. However, Zaluzhny also acknowledged that Ukrainian forces require advanced air defense systems and other technologies that are readily available within NATO.
These concerns are compounded by reports of inadequate defense spending within some NATO countries, including the UK. A recent defense plan proposed by General Sir Richard Barrons and Lord Robertson, which outlined requirements to counter potential Russian aggression, was reportedly rejected by the UK Treasury as unaffordable. The authors had previously warned Parliament that the UK's defenses against Russian ballistic missiles are "near non-existent."
Sir Richard emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that "the world is on fire now. The UK does not own the clock on when we need to be ready by. It is set by Russia and likely on the back of an outcome in Ukraine. Which is why people talk credibly about 2030 or sooner." The UK's Strategic Defence Review, published last year, was intended to be followed by a Defence Investment Plan, but a year was reportedly spent debating cuts instead. Plans for a national air defense system, dubbed an "Iron Dome" for British cities, were estimated to cost at least £80 billion, with one political offer amounting to only £1 billion.
Recent intelligence also indicates an expansion of Russian military bases along NATO's borders, alongside major Russian war games involving nuclear-capable missiles in the Barents Sea, further heightening tensions. Zaluzhny's ambassador to Britain reportedly stated that NATO would likely require 12 years to transition to the necessary standards to match at least half of the Russian Federation's military level.