MP Röwekamp emphasized that Ukraine should receive modern air defense systems and equipment to strike targets on Russian territory, and that coordination within NATO should allow responding to threats in the airspace of allied countries.

Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, providing Ukraine with such capabilities becomes particularly relevant after the incident in which some Russian UAVs entered Polish airspace. To protect key logistical hubs, such as Rzeszów Airport, the Bundeswehr deployed Patriot air defense systems and 200 soldiers, while Dutch F-35s shot down at least three drones.

The head of the Bundestag Defense Committee, Thomas Röwekamp, told the German magazine Spiegel that NATO needs to act more decisively against Russian drones. He stressed the need to shoot down drones over Ukraine and to strike production sites and launch platforms in Russia.

According to him, mass UAV attacks create very serious challenges for air defense, and military capabilities in this area should be expanded. Germany should increase its contribution and help Ukraine acquire modern air defense systems and other tools to counter drones.

Röwekamp highlighted the importance of NATO coordination to determine when and over whose territory threats can be countered:

“There must be a possibility, with the consent of the affected country, to neutralize drones that threaten NATO territory, even in their airspace.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for a coordinated approach to protect Ukrainian airspace, proposing to work with partners to find solutions that minimize escalation. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has refrained from commenting on the possibility of shooting down drones over Ukraine, emphasizing the need for caution and coordination with allies.

Meanwhile, Germany and other partners are actively supplying Ukraine with modern air defense systems and assisting in the development of long-range UAVs. This allows not only repelling attacks but also planning actions against the sources of threats on Russian territory.

On 10 September, special forces of Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) attacked a Russian Black Sea Fleet ship near Novorossiysk. As a result, the MPSV07-class vessel reportedly sustained serious damage, lost its electronic reconnaissance equipment, and now requires costly repairs.

According to HUR, the strike targeted a multifunctional MPSV07-class ship commissioned in 2015. Each ship of this type is valued at around $60 million, and the Russian Navy possesses only four of them. The vessel is equipped with diving systems, remotely operated vehicles, side-scan sonars, and electronic reconnaissance systems. With a power capacity of about 4 MW, the ship plays a crucial role in underwater and reconnaissance operations.

HUR confirmed that the Ukrainian drone struck the ship’s command bridge, containing navigation and communication systems. According to the report, the attack destroyed the vessel’s electronic reconnaissance equipment, disabling the ship, which would requiring long and costly repairs.

This attack fits into the broader context of Ukraine’s operations against Russia’s naval forces. Just weeks earlier, on 22 August 2025, DIU reported another successful operation in Novorossiysk, during which five elite Russian divers were eliminated.

On 9 September 2025, London hosted the 30th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein format after its first session at the US airbase in Germany. Over more than three years, the group has pledged over $145 billion in military aid, providing Ukraine with vital assets such as modern air defense systems, F-16 aircraft, tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery shells.

At the latest meeting in the Ramstein format, Germany announced a new ambitious initiative — support for the production of Ukrainian long-range drones. Berlin will invest €300 million in contracts with domestic companies, effectively betting on Ukrainian defense engineering as one of the key forces in the war against Russia.

The decision demonstrates a fundamental shift in Berlin’s approach. While earlier it was mostly about supplying ready-made weapons from Bundeswehr stockpiles, now the German government is betting on the development of Ukraine’s defense industry. This means not only supporting the front now but also creating the foundation for Ukraine’s defense independence.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the new program is called “deep strike.” It envisions the purchase of thousands of drones of various types, from reconnaissance to strike UAVs. Their ranges will allow them to hit targets far behind the frontlines. 

Pistorius stressed that cooperation with Ukrainian manufacturers will be long-term and scalable. 

“This is not only support for today but also an investment in the future of Ukraine and European security,” he said. 

For Ukraine, this news carries another dimension – recognition of its technological capability. Germany is effectively acknowledging that Ukrainian engineers are able to create world-class weaponry. This could open the door not only to military but also to civilian high-tech cooperation in the future.

The deep strike initiative comes amid the growing use of drones in the war. Ukrainian UAVs have already proven their effectiveness, striking oil depots, military warehouses, and ships of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Due to German investment, the scale of such operations could increase many times over.

At the same time, Berlin announced continued support with air defense systems, including Patriots, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of its assistance: on the one hand, protection of Ukrainian skies, and on the other, the ability to deliver pinpoint strikes on the enemy hundreds of kilometers away.

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