A senior Ukrainian government official has warned that Europe lacks the necessary resources to confront Russia in an era of drone and robotic warfare.
Oleksandr Prokudin, governor of Ukraine’s frontline region of Kherson Oblast, told The Independent that European armies are “not physically prepared” for what he called “a new kind of war” with Moscow.
He noted that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has marked the emergence of weaponized robots and unmanned platforms, reminiscent of the evolution of artillery warfare during World War II.
“The beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, [NATO and its allies] were ready for what was coming then,” Prokudin noted. “But during the last three years, Russia has skyrocketed up to space with its technology, innovation, and ammunition production. They are not ready for what Russia has.”
Prokudin urged Europe to increase investment in high-tech military assets such as drones, robots, and unmanned systems to meet the demands of modern warfare.
‘A Training Ground’
Ukraine has served as a testing ground for Russia’s military innovations from the outset of the war, according to Prokudin.
He claimed that Moscow has had years to develop cutting-edge defense systems that are “greater in number” and “better in efficiency” than any other in the world.
Because of this, European militaries are urged to closely observe the battlefield to gain critical insights into how modern conflicts are fought.
“If Lithuania was targeted right now, do you think NATO would come and save them? They can’t even protect their own countries — let alone us. The reason is because they are physically not able to,” Prokudin stated.
NATO is facing increasing security threats from Russia, with intelligence reports suggesting that the alliance could be the next target of Russian aggression once Moscow secures victory in Ukraine.
