Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced Thursday that Ukraine and Poland have signed a memorandum to establish a joint working group on drones, in a move aimed at strengthening defense cooperation amid ongoing Russian attacks. The agreement was signed in Kyiv during the visit of Polish Defense Minister Wladislaw Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Shmyhal said the new framework takes bilateral security cooperation to a “new level,” emphasizing that the central focus will be joint training programs, as well as the exchange of expertise on drone use and countermeasures. He noted that the group will also develop and test new methods for deploying drones in combat scenarios. Alongside the memorandum, the two ministers signed a joint declaration to deepen overall defense ties and sent a letter urging NATO defense ministers to increase their involvement in the Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre established earlier this year.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions, with Poland reporting last week that 19 Russian drones had violated its airspace during attacks on Ukraine—an incident Moscow described as unintentional. NATO has since launched “Operation Eastern Sentry” to bolster regional defenses. Shmyhal expressed gratitude to Poland, saying: “Together we strengthen the security of our countries and the entire European continent.”
