Polish military uses outdated training methods, soldier tells about life in 2013

Ukrainian military personnel who have been trained in Poland have expressed concerns about the use of outdated military methods that do not take into account the latest challenges, in particular the use of drones in combat. According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and translators who accompanied the training, the methods are based on NATO standards developed during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Polish instructors often use tactical training that ignores modern trends, in particular, the massive use of drones. Only in October 2025 did Poland open its first drone range, Jomsborg, which indicates a belated adaptation to the new conditions of war.

Experienced military personnel express concern, noting that Polish methods, focused on classical approaches, are not relevant in conditions where drones have become an integral part of combat operations. For example, the evacuation of the wounded in situations where the enemy controls the air via UAVs has become virtually impossible.

One of the commanders of the “Eighteen” battalion discusses his attempt to explain to the instructors the need to update training approaches. Still, his efforts to engage Polish trainers were reduced to adhering to old rules. “The training program is based on NATO standards, but it looks as if we have returned to 2013, when our soldiers did not encounter real combat conditions,” he notes.

The exercises of the Ukrainian military using drones also caused shock. One Czech instructor, who has experience in peacekeeping missions, asked during the exercises to “remove the drones” because they were constantly detecting his group. To which he received the answer: “We are preparing for a real war.”

The training programs included training drone operators, but most of the organizational work was handled by the Ukrainian side, which provided the training equipment. “Fortunately, we were able to bring 12-15 Mavic drones and had one experienced pilot,” the major added.

During the exercises, the soldiers were taught to use paper maps for terrain orientation. The Kastet UAV operator, who serves in the Kharkiv direction, noted that he had not used paper maps in 3.5 years of the war, since all data is available on tablets and phones.

The military expresses its opinion on the programs’ irrelevance and responsibility. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports on the constant analysis of combat operations and improvement of training standards. At the same time, representatives of the Polish Ministry of Defense note that they have not received any formal complaints about the training methodology.

Despite the statements about the availability of training modules using UAVs, the real benefit of such exercises for some Ukrainian soldiers is questionable. At the training camps, they encountered not only outdated methods but also a lack of flexibility in Polish instructors’ perception of new knowledge.

The soldier with the call sign “Eighteen” emphasizes that, while the Czechs tried to take the Ukrainians’ comments into account, the Poles adhered to established rules. Modern warfare requires a faster response to changes in tactics and technology.