Danish troops to observe Ukrainian drone tactics in non-combat mission

The Danish Armed Forces are preparing to send several unarmed teams of soldiers to Ukraine for training purposes, with a specific focus on gaining insight into Ukraine’s battlefield experience with drone warfare.

Danish Ground Forces Commander, Major General Peter Boysen, confirmed the move in an interview with Danish broadcaster TV 2, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainska Pravda.

The Danish personnel, drawn from various military regiments, will not participate in combat operations but are expected to take part in one- to two-week training sessions, possibly beginning as early as this summer. The deployment comes at the invitation of Boysen’s Ukrainian counterpart, and the soldiers will be stationed far from the front line—likely at a training centre in western Ukraine, such as Lviv.

“In my 42 years of service in the armed forces, I have never seen events develop so quickly,” said Boysen, after observing a reconnaissance regiment training with advanced attack drones similar to those used on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Boysen said the decision to send Danish soldiers for training follows his two recent visits to Ukraine, which have strongly influenced Denmark's adoption of new weapon systems and modern combat strategies. "We are sending several teams there to see first-hand what experience the Ukrainians have. So come and get this experience," he said.

The initiative is intended to accelerate the Danish Armed Forces’ integration of emerging warfare technologies, particularly drones, into their own operations.

However, the move has drawn criticism from Russia. In a written comment to TV 2, Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin warned that Denmark was drawing itself “deeper and deeper into the conflict in Ukraine,” accusing Copenhagen of contributing to an “uncontrolled escalation.”

Boysen dismissed these concerns, reiterating that the mission is non-combat and focused on observation and training. “They will be trained far from the front line… And if there is a missile attack, the Ukrainians have outstanding warning systems and good shelters,” he added, noting his own experience staying in such a shelter in Kyiv.

Denmark has recently increased its support for Ukraine, including a €130 million guarantee announced at the end of March to encourage Danish investments in Ukraine’s defence sector. In addition, as part of the international drone coalition, Denmark allocated €20 million from a joint fund to procure tactical-level intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drones for Ukraine’s military.

By Khagan Isayev