The Ukrainian Army

Born out of the chaotic context of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian army began as a miniature version of its Soviet predecessor, but it quickly suffered from an endemic lack of funding, which paved the way for corruption and proved devastating to its combat readiness. The fighting in the Donbass, from April 2014 to February 2015, served as a brutal wake-up call. During the following eight years, the army, now better funded, was able to strengthen itself, rebuild its capabilities, and adapt its practices, giving rise to a kind of doctrinal synthesis combining Soviet, Russian, and NATO tactics.

These reforms paid huge dividends, as the army successfully fought off the Russian attempt to seize Kyiv in February and March 2022. It then managed to slow down and eventually halt the Russian assaults in the Donbass during the spring and summer, before launching staggeringcounteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson in the autumn. However, its decisive 2023 offensive failed, forcing it to face an almost continuous Russian onslaught ever since. This book explores these events and examines how the army fought in the air, at sea, and on the ground, achieving spectacular successes but also suffering multiple setbacks against a Russian army that should not be underestimated. It also details how the army struggled with countless difficulties while nevertheless maintaining the upper hand for much of the time in the battle of adaptation against its foe, thanks to the unique bottom- up civil-military ecosystem that underpins it.

“The approach to the subject, and this is welcome, is not solely tactical  and shows the sharpness of an author who follows the war closely […] The conclusion, for its part, broadens the scope of reflection after an analysis that is non-partisan, balanced, and above all nuanced and well-informed.” Revue Défense & Sécurité Internationale

“Fontanellaz’s monograph is a success and represents an important contribution to the literature on a poorly studied belligerent, as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year.” Revue Stratos

“An essential work for understanding the evolution of the Ukrainian army, from the country’s independence to the war against Russia. […] It is therefore a comprehensive study of a conflict that has not only transformed the Ukrainian army, but also the armies of Europe, which are observing and studying what is happening in Ukraine.” Revue Conflits