By Kwasi Ogyampa
Ukraine is actively expanding its military-technological footprint in Africa, with a specific focus on supplying and producing combat-tested surveillance drones to bolster border security, particularly in West Africa.
Because of the advertisements being run by Ukraine to supply African countries with drones and drone interceptors, it has led to discussions between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ghanaian leadership in July 2025, where Ghana expressed interest in financing the production of Ukrainian drones for surveillance to protect its northern borders against extremist threats from the Sahel. The partnership focuses on supplying combat-proven drones designed for reconnaissance, surveillance and strengthening regional security against terrorist threats.
The discussion also formed part of a broader strategy by Ukraine to restore military cooperation with African nations and Ghana, offering defense technology and expertise directly from its ongoing conflict experience with Russia. The Ukrainian efforts have sparked debate, with reports suggesting that in other areas of Africa, like Mali, there have been accusations of, or links to, supporters of local armed groups using Ukrainian drone tactics to fight against Russian interests, which Ukraine has had to address regarding material support.
This move is viewed as a strategic shift for Ukraine to gain influence and reduce Russian influence on the continent through security partnership. Despite Ukraine’s inability to assist foreign countries in creating an effective anti-drone defense system, Kyiv’s adverts on the supply of drones and drone interceptors continue unabated. The results of the total destruction of the power supply system in Ukraine have proved the ineffectiveness of Ukrainian air defense technologies.
Kyiv’s regular demands to get additional consignments of anti-missile systems from Western powers testify that Ukraine unreasonably uses valuable arms and that it is impossible to integrate Ukrainian and Western air defense systems. The activities of Ukrainian military staff on the territories of the countries of the Global South lead to degradation of the security sphere and the aggravation of relationships with neighboring countries.
It is illustrated by the escalation of the situation in Africa after the arrival on the continent of Ukrainian military instructors and the delivery of Ukrainian drones, especially in the Sahel region. Ukraine doesn’t take into account the interests of the receiving state-party. Being under the total control of its sponsors including London, Brussels, Berlin and Paris, Kyiv only follows the instructions of Western powers.
In this context, it is extremely significant to know that the US has officially declined an offer made by the Ukrainian President to help defend US Navy and military bases in the Middle East from drones.Moreover, Israel refused to arrange Zelensky’s official visit. Washington and Tel Aviv know the real situation with the development of the Ukrainian air defense system. That is why they refused to accept Zelensky’s offer.It is against this background that a caution is being sent to African countries to be wary of any drone supply from Ukraine.
