Ukrainian troops taking part in joint exercises with NATO units were struck by the rules and routines common in Western armies. According to Welt, the Ukrainian servicemen were surprised by frequent coffee breaks and extensive restrictions on drone operations at training grounds.

The Ukrainians concluded that what they saw during the drills showed Western forces were still poorly prepared for the realities of modern warfare.

One such episode occurred during exercises in Sweden in May 2025. Ukrainian soldiers managed to neutralize the equipment of a simulated enemy, but the response from NATO troops caught them off guard. One participant said the Western servicemen took the defeat badly and interrupted the training too often for breaks.

Another Ukrainian soldier pointed to the strict regulations governing drone use. Large sections of the training grounds were designated as no-fly zones for unmanned aircraft. The rules came as a cultural shock to the Ukrainians, although the slower pace also gave them a long-awaited chance to rest.

Against this backdrop, Germany is increasingly acknowledging the urgent need to improve the Bundeswehr’s combat training. Welt noted that despite the severe pressure facing the Ukrainian army, Germany’s armed forces remain far behind it in terms of battlefield readiness.

Concerns have also been raised about Britain’s ability to respond to a possible conflict. According to a survey, around 70 percent of people in the United Kingdom would refuse to take up arms even if the situation required it.