Colonel Arbo Probal, head of the unmanned systems program of the Estonian Defense Forces, responded to criticisms directed at the Estonian military exercise Siil 2025 from Ukrainian drone pilots. Probal's comments were made in an interview featured in both The Wall Street Journal and the Ukrainian news agency Unian. He emphasized that assessing individual drone units based on the purported loss of vehicles or battalions during the exercise fails to acknowledge the broader training objectives of the NATO alliance and the real combat readiness of their forces.

Probal argued that understanding military exercises requires a comprehensive perspective that goes beyond isolated incidents. The criticisms from Ukrainian pilots were viewed as overlooking the structured nature of military training scenarios, which are designed to enhance operational capabilities in a controlled environment. By situating these losses within the context of an exercise, it becomes clearer that they serve a purpose in developing tactical responses and assessing unit performance rather than indicating a deficit in actual combat effectiveness.

In light of ongoing tensions in the region and the significance of joint military exercises for NATO's operational readiness, Probal's statements underscore the importance of clear communication and mutual understanding among allied forces. As both Estonia and Ukraine navigate their respective security challenges, fostering cooperation and dialogue remains crucial for enhancing collective defense capabilities against potential threats. This situation highlights the delicate balance of military assessments in a training versus real combat context.