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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
During large-scale military exercises in Germany at the beginning of 2026, American servicemembers encountered Ukrainian drone operators. The results of these maneuvers proved extremely discouraging for the U.S. Army and demonstrated that the U.S. armed forces have not yet fully learned the lessons of the modern war between Russia and Ukraine.
As reported by the authoritative publication The Wall Street Journal.
How Ukraine "routed" the U.S. in training
Training under the code name Combined Resolve 26-07 took place from 9 April to 10 May 2026 of the year.
According to an official press release on the U.S. Army website, the main arena of events was the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany. Approximately 3500 American service members participated. The main striking force on the U.S. side was the 3-brigade Combat Team Greywolf 1 of the 2nd Cavalry Division, based at Fort Cavazos, Texas. This brigade was just completing its nine-month rotation in Europe.
The task for American forces was to attack positions defended by the Opposing Force (OPFOR). The latter were significantly strengthened by Ukrainian military personnel from the Nemesis drone systems unit.
During the offensive, heavy American armored vehicles kicked up thick clouds of dust, making them an ideal and easy target for Ukrainian reconnaissance drones. Immediately following the scouts were drones dropping explosives and FPV kamikaze drones that crash into the target in real battle.
Since such training usually does not involve live munitions, drones simply hovered over the equipment or approached closely enough for observers to count a “kill.”
Ukrainian operators did this so quickly and effectively that American equipment had to be continually brought back into play as new units, or “respawned,” so the training could continue.
In the end, according to participants and U.S. officials, Ukrainian operators completely neutralized the American armored brigade.
By the way, the effectiveness of the Nemesis brigade is confirmed not only on ranges but in real combat conditions as well. In July 2026 of the year, the brigade conducted a large operation “Logistical Lockdown,” destroying or damaging about 500 units of Russian military equipment and 400 motorcycles and ATVs. For strikes deep in enemy rear at a distance of over 200 kilometers, the latest drones “Hornet” and “Morrigan” are used.
Moreover, from 6 July 2026 year, SBS, together with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), began an unprecedented operation “MoLoChKa.” Its goal is the destruction of the Russian “shadow fleet” in the Black and Azov seas using sea and air kamikaze drones from Fire Point.
As of 9 August 2026 year, 218 ships were struck, reducing the capacity of the Kerch Strait crossing by 75%. During nighttime strikes 8 August, drones also hit the Russian air defense system S-400 “Triumf” in Gelendzhik, and the systems Tor and Pantsir-S1.
What did the exercises reveal about U.S. tactics?
Despite the initial rout, the Combined Resolve exercises aim precisely to identify weak spots. They are conducted within the U.S. Army concept of “Continuous Transformation” or “Transformation in Contact” (TiC), which envisions rapid integration of commercial technologies directly into combat units.
American forces, equipped with standard EW and counter-UAS systems, learned quickly. Over the two-week scenario, the U.S. restarted the exercise. Rotational forces improved their performance, learning to disperse more effectively, mask themselves, and employ EW. In the middle of the exercises, Ukrainians even switched to the American side, helping them effectively use drones in an offensive.
This experience is critically important for the U.S., given its losses in the Middle East. This year American troops faced difficulties defending against Iranian long-range drones that killed and wounded soldiers, as well as destroyed aircraft. Elliott Cohen, a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that recent combat experience shows how important drones of all kinds are for modern warfare.
“It is vital that American soldiers master this, and so far, unfortunately, it seems that this is not the case,” he emphasized.
Ukrainian military experts, including former Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, assert that drone technology has made traditional maneuver warfare impracticable, explaining the static front line in eastern Ukraine. So much armored equipment is being destroyed in Ukraine that large sections of the front are left almost without it. The training in Germany showed that the U.S. will also face enormous challenges protecting its armor in motion.
What was known before?
Cooperation between the United States and Ukraine in the field of drones is only strengthening. As early as 2023 year, an American infantry officer who helped train Ukrainians developed a drone-based training program for the U.S. Army. Despite difficult political relations, the Trump administration actively studied Ukrainian experience. In May, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mike Espert stated to senators that he increased the number of American personnel sent to Ukraine to study drone warfare. The United States is now testing Ukrainian drones for possible procurement and using proven in-Ukraine counter-UAV systems to defend its forces in Iran.
The U.S. Army is not the first to feel the power of Ukrainian operators. For example, in May 2025, Ukrainian drones easily "sank" a NATO frigate.
And in spring 2026, Swedish forces conducted training with NATO allies, where Ukrainian drone teams again outperformed them.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Україна "розгромила" бронетанкову дивізію США на навчаннях у Німеччині". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Channel 24.
