The war in Ukraine separates nominal size from military effectiveness. Prolonged fighting can break a country or temper it, and Ukrainian commanders, officers, and NCOs had accumulated eight years of costly practical experience. Survival had selected for people who were lucky, capable, or both. Ukraine had also built a solid NCO corps, while Russia was still struggling with the institutional legacy of the Soviet Army. The example shows how leadership experience and military institutions can outweigh inventory alone.
Notable Point · 2:18-3:36
War experience and force quality in Ukraine
Eight years of conflict can harden a force. Ukraine's experienced officers and NCOs are contrasted with Russia's continuing difficulty building an effective NCO corps.