At Polish training grounds, Ukrainian soldiers are being trained using outdated methods, just like in 1410

Ukrainian military personnel say that training programs at Polish training grounds do not meet modern conditions of war, where drones and artillery are actively used. This was reported by the BBC on November 17, 2025.

Since 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been undergoing training at training centers in European countries, including Poland. The military is taught basic training, advanced training, coordination, and special exercises using Western equipment.

However, Ukrainian soldiers who trained at Polish training grounds say that the instructors' methods are outdated. One soldier even compared them to textbooks from 1410, drawing a parallel with the Battle of Grunwald.

Drone training and tactical medicine have been particularly criticized. The training is based on the “golden hour” standard used in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and does not take into account the modern realities of fighting under the sights of dozens of UAVs. Soldiers report that the wounded often cannot be evacuated for days.

The UAV operator of the unit in the Kharkiv direction added that Polish instructors were useful for "staff" soldiers, but servicemen with combat experience trained the Poles themselves.

The Polish side only provides the Jomsborg training ground for training drone operators. According to a BBC source in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, foreign and Ukrainian instructors are currently working on updated programs that integrate drones into training.

At the same time, professional military personnel believe that the problem is not only in Poland. According to them, NATO commanders are aware of the changes in modern warfare, but are blocking the updating of methodological materials.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that they are constantly receiving feedback and improving training programs. The Polish Ministry of Defense noted that no comments were received from the Ukrainian side.

We will remind you that on October 2, the largest training center for Ukrainian military personnel, Camp Jomsborg, was opened in Poland.