Nick, a unmanned aerial platoon commander from the 412th Nemesis Brigade who took part in the Hedgehog-2025 exercise where Ukrainian pilots “defeated” a NATO grouping, has shared new details of the drill. Partners asked them to drop dummy munitions not directly on the target but 10–15 meters away to avoid injuring anyone, as per Hromadske.
Ten NATO soldiers stood in place and did not react to a drone
“We weren’t shocked — we were just pleasantly surprised… I understood that until you experience it yourself, you won’t fully grasp it,” the Ukrainian commander says.
When the war game ended, NATO personnel showed strong interest and realized that the battlefield had fundamentally changed and that tactics needed to be adapted.
“The generals on whose side we operated thanked us for coming from the front line, taking the time, and helping them,” Nick emphasizes.
During the exercise, infantry units reacted weakly to approaching aerial assets. In some cases, they attempted to disperse; in others, they did not.
“If there is a threat from the sky, you have to think about what cover to take so you’re not spotted from above. Because if you are detected, consider yourself ‘200,’” he explains.
According to the soldier, the pilots’ task was to strike equipment. While flying toward a target, they could see ten NATO soldiers standing nearby without reacting to the drone overhead.
In such cases, Nick would approach the commander and ask him to order the infantry to disperse, providing real-time feedback during the exercise.
“We are f—”: 10 Ukrainians with drones wipe out two NATO battalions in war game
When NATO troops moved into staging areas, they did not disperse their equipment. Vehicles were positioned quite close together — 30 to 50 meters apart.
“You arrive in a grid square, and you don’t even need to search. You just see a cluster and begin systematically engaging it,” Nick notes.
“No one was delivering anything to them”
Nick was the senior member of the Nemesis pilot group. Ukrainian pilots practiced the scenario alongside a grouping that was in defense, while another force was advancing and had to be stopped.
After that, the first grouping launched a counterattack. The overall scenario lasted five days.
“We carried out strike missions, logistical tasks including road mining, as well as supply missions, delivering provisions and drones. Units deployed to the training ground, and no one was bringing them supplies by vehicle,” Nick adds.
The Ukrainian commander emphasizes that Estonia, where the exercise took place, is actively developing its drone component and shows strong interest in drone capabilities. During the drills, Estonian soldiers used Mavic-type drones.
