Denmark is sending troops to Ukraine

ED: While I was digging up stories for today’s newsletter, I was shocked when I saw the headline “Denmark is sending soldiers to Ukraine.” But as I read on, I realized I might’ve jumped the gun a bit.

• They won’t be armed.
• They’re heading in to get hands-on experience with drone warfare tactics.

Danish troops are set to attend short-term military courses in western Ukraine, well away from the active front lines. The training will focus on skills such as reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and executing targeted attacks using drones. Major General Peter Boysen clarified that Danish soldiers are not being deployed to fight but to learn from Ukraine’s frontline experiences, particularly in modern warfare tactics.

Ukraine’s pioneering use of drones has become a defining feature of its defence strategy and is widely regarded as having reshaped contemporary combat. Both Ukraine and Russia have heavily relied on unmanned aerial systems for surveillance, targeting, and offensive operations. Denmark views this deployment as an opportunity to observe a “live testbed” for the development of advanced drone technologies and associated battlefield tactics.

The decision has sparked a strong response from Moscow. Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin condemned the move as a provocation, warning Denmark against increasing its involvement in the conflict. Barbin also cautioned that any military facility within Ukraine, regardless of its distance from the front lines, could be considered a legitimate target by Russian forces.

Denmark’s initiative forms part of its broader and long-standing support for Ukraine. In 2024, Copenhagen signed a 10-year security agreement with Kyiv, underlining its commitment to long-term defence cooperation. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Denmark has remained one of Ukraine’s most steadfast allies.

ED: My concern: You can easily picture a situation where, God forbid, a Russian strike hits them. NATO would then face a tough call—whether to enter the war or brush it off as a tragic accident.