– 3 and a half years after the start of full-scale war in Ukraine changed its character.
Drones play an expanding function in the field of combat and Russia has launched their production on a very massive scale. The head of the European Commission announced a programme with a budget of EUR 6 billion to proceed working with the Ukrainian drone system, which achieved the championship in terms of production velocity and its very low costs. We are absolutely convinced that this Ukrainian experience needs to be utilized and concrete actions and fresh measures that will emerge," says Newseria Michał Szczerba, associate of the European Parliament of the Civic Platform.
Currently around 80% of attacks are carried out utilizing unmanned aircraft
These actions aim not only to aid Ukraine hold its lead, but besides to strengthen Europe's position. According to representatives of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, Ukraine has the possible to produce 10 million drones per year. Currently, around 80% of attacks are carried out utilizing unmanned aircraft.
According to von der Leyen, the EU can usage its industrial possible to support Ukraine in countering this war with drones, for the benefit of both parties. Today, the usage of drones by Ukraine is liable for more than 2/3 of the failure of Russian equipment. According to the U.S. Anti-Terrorism Centre (CTC), estimated number of drone attacks Shahed conducted by Russian troops in Ukraine in 2024 was almost 1,000 per month. In the autumn, the usage of these devices for attacks increased significantly, and this year from January to May this year they averaged almost 3.5 1000 per month.
These are devices that track only flying objects at very low altitude
– I have addressed a letter to the European Commission's chief, Ursula von der Leyen on drone systems. present in east Poland, in east Europe peculiar anti-drone systems are needed, which are dedicated only to drones. These are devices that only track flying objects at very low altitude, says Marta Wcisło, associate of the European Parliament from the Civic Platform.
– The funds of the European Defence Agency may be mobilised for this purpose, they are being launched and the armed forces of Ukraine will besides be supported. The further the Russians are from our borders, from the external borders of the European Union, the safer we are, but we are besides going to usage the SAFE fund to benefit from the experience and technology developed by Ukrainians," says Michał Szczerba. “I myself have been in Ukraine respective times in fresh months and have seen factories that are able to produce for respective 1000 euros equipment that can truly destruct the enemy.
The Ukrainian defence manufacture is able to produce 10 million drones per year in many categories
Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Alexander Kozenko in June this year at the Singapore safety Forum estimated that the Ukrainian defence manufacture was able to produce 10 million drones per year in many categories. According to the minister, drones are liable for 80 percent of all attacks on the battlefield. Ursula von der Leyen besides stressed in her speech the request to invest in supporting the east flank of Europe.
– east Poland, east Europe faces immense safety challenges. Infringement of our airspace, i.e. breach of the European Union and NATO airspace, gives absolutely legitimacy to take concrete and fast action, from all possible origin of backing in the resources of the European Commission, namely both the SAFE programme and cohesion policy, says Marta Wcisło.
The attitude towards cohesion policy is increasingly changing
At its September session, the European Parliament approved the improvement of cohesion policy until 2027, in which a key change is the ability of associate States and regions to redirect funds to fresh objectives, including strengthening defence or civilian defence capacity.
– The attitude towards cohesion policy is increasingly changing. In its current form, it is not adequate for its application, as there is simply a very low percent of the usage of cohesion policy funds. It involves complicated procedures. Thus, these resources, which are not utilized from the current perspective, could be dedicated to the safety of east Europe, in general Europe," explains the Euro MP. "In the fresh perspective, however, there should be financial instruments, which offer the possibility, of course, of being optional, depending on the country's needs, the application or usage of cohesion policy for defence.
