The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
The Hedgehog-2025 exercises in Estonia became a good demonstration of the synergy of technologies and a systematic approach.
The exercises, held in May 2025 in Estonia with NATO militaries and Ukrainian drone operators, demonstrated the synergy of technologies and systematic methods that create an advantage on the modern battlefield.
This opinion was shared with ArmyInform by Ihor Tokar, Head of the Communications Department of the 412th Nemesis Brigade.
On February 12, the Wall Street Journal reported that more than 16,000 troops from 12 NATO countries took part in Hedgehog-2025, training together with Ukrainian UAV operators.
The scenario of the exercises
Ukrainian-Estonian opposing forces “managed to destroy two battalions in a day” and in about half a day “destroyed” 17 armored vehicles and carried out 30 “strikes” on other targets.
According to the newspaper, Western allies were shocked by the results of the war game.
Estonian Aivar Hanniotti led the joint Estonian-Ukrainian opposing unit of about 100 people. He told journalists that the “enemy” unit used more than 30 drones against NATO troops over an area of less than 10 m².
Since this number is about half of what is used on the Ukrainian front today, exercise judges sometimes compensated by counting the strikes as twice as destructive.
“This is not a story about our guys showing off and defeating someone”
Tokar emphasizes that the Hedgehog-2025 exercises in Estonia are “in no way a story about our guys demonstratively crushing someone”.
“This is rather an example that war doctrines age faster than non-warring countries can react. This episode is a good demonstration of the synergy of technologies and the systematic approach that create an advantage on the modern battlefield.
Even if you have the best and most expensive equipment, but your infantry does not react to threats from the sky, and your armored vehicles are lined up like in a shopping mall parking lot, pilots will work these targets like at a firing range — methodically, precisely, and without delay”, — Tokar said.
He stressed that for the Nemesis brigade, the use of UAVs is a comprehensive approach — units operate on land, water, and in the air.
“With heavy bombers, we strike targets, mine logistics routes, deliver supplies (food, medicine, ammo). That is why we gladly participate in international exercises and share our experience with partners.
Real security begins only when the army moves and develops like a living organism — adapting its tactics and technologies to the realities dictated by modern war”, — Tokar emphasized.
NATO militaries realized they must change tactics
UAV platoon commander Nik from the 412th Nemesis Brigade, who participated in the exercises, says the maneuvers showed that NATO troops do not understand the danger drones pose, nor how to react on the battlefield. Nik led the Nemesis pilot group.
“Infantry reacted poorly to approaching drones. Sometimes they tried to disperse, sometimes not. They didn’t understand it was a threat. We told them — this must not happen. If there is a threat from the sky, you must hide as fast as possible and think about what cover to take so that you are not spotted from above — because if they see you, consider yourself a ‘200’ in a short time”, — Nik told Hromadske.
After the war game, Ukrainian troops filled out the after-action review form.
“They became interested and understood that this no longer works, that tactics must change. The generals on whose side we worked thanked us for coming from the front, taking our time, and helping them”, — Nik concluded.
