Important perspectives on the development of the conflict in Ukraine and the strategic lessons that can be drawn from it. This was the content of the panel discussion on Thursday, February 27, in the premises of the University of Defence (UO) Club under the auspices of the university’s Center for Security and Military Strategic Studies (CSMSS). The discussion, held for the third time in connection with the anniversary of the invasion of Russian troops, this time under the title Experiences and Lessons Learned from the War in Ukraine, was held for the first time in English and, thanks to close cooperation with the CEVRO Institute, was attended by foreign experts from the United States and Ukraine.

The opening remarks were made by the Rector-Commander of the University of Applied Sciences, Colonel General Jan Farlík, and the Director of the CSMSS, Associate Professor Josef Procházka, who emphasised that security is not only a matter for the army but also the entire society. They also mentioned the need to adapt to the constantly changing environment as a key aspect. The current situation in Ukraine and key changes in the dynamics of the conflict and the entire security environment were presented in Dr. Zdeněk Petráš’s first contribution from the CSMSS.

Phillip A. Petersen, President of the New Generation Warfare Centre, focused on the risks and challenges arising from the Russian aggression in Ukraine, especially from the perspective of operational-strategic and tactical-technical aspects. He also refuted misconceptions about modern warfare, such as the claim that tanks are useless on the battlefield or the idea of completely replacing artillery with unmanned aerial vehicles. In a follow-up speech, Arseni Siviski summarized how the Russian Federation learned from the course of the conflict, both in the military approach and in mobilization, training, tactics and generally in adapting to the modern battlefield.

The second part of the program was opened by Major General Volodymyr Havrylov, former Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, who brought a perspective on a new era of warfare, especially with the use of unmanned and robotic means, thanks to which Ukrainian units can mitigate collateral damage and human losses. Then, Major Kateřina Ramil from the Training Command – Military Academy in Vyškov spoke, presenting the concept of the Lessons Learned system and emphasizing the crucial role of military education.

In the final panel discussion, its participants addressed topics such as a multidimensional approach to modern warfare, the need for social resilience, and the issue of recruitment and mobilization.

Authors: CBVSS and OdMark, photo: Viktor Sliva