NATO training: Ukraine must “retrain” its soldiers, says Reisner

Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer) Colonel Markus Reisner, in a recent interview with NTV, sharply criticises European self-perceptions and the effectiveness of Western training programmes for Ukrainian soldiers. After their NATO training, they first have to be extensively retrained to hold their own in the war against Russia.

The criticism was triggered by statements from Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, who recently made disparaging comments about Ukrainian drone developments. Reisner warns against such misjudgements and sees a fundamental problem in them: “In my view, this is the typical arrogance that we display in many European countries. We want to give the impression that we are superior to those who have been fighting in the war for years. That is not true at all.”

On the contrary, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have gained considerable operational experience in recent years – especially in drone warfare. Reisner points to concrete examples from exercises with NATO states: “Ukraine has gained incredible experience in recent years. When Ukrainian units exercise together with NATO, they are superior to it. At a NATO exercise in the Baltic states in early 2025, a Ukrainian drone unit called Nemesis succeeded in inflicting heavy losses on the NATO units, because these units were not at all prepared for the way the war in Ukraine is currently being fought.”

Reisner is also clear in his assessment of Papperger's statements: “Now the head of one of the largest European defence companies is playing down what is happening here. That is grossly negligent.”

He also sees economic interests at play: “From the point of view of the European defence groups, there is a great danger that Ukraine, with its experience and technological developments, will in future win contracts that the European defence industry would actually like to have for itself.”

Reisner's verdict on the NATO training of Ukrainian soldiers is particularly critical. In his view, it only partly reflects reality at the front: “Finally, it is significant that Ukraine is now ending the training of its soldiers in NATO states, because the soldiers there do not learn what they need at the front.”

The consequence: additional loss of time and increased risks in operations. “Ukraine has to laboriously retrain its soldiers after NATO training before they can be sent to the front. Otherwise the soldiers would often be killed by Russian drone attacks after just a few days.”