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The original was posted on /r/ukraine by /u/Ukrainer_UA on 2024-11-25 02:23:13+00:00.
How Ukraine has Changed in 10 years of War
Part One
For many Ukrainians, 2014 marked a pivotal moment that set in motion rapid changes in both their country and their lives. The Revolution of Dignity succeeded in toppling the pro-Russian president Yanukovych and putting an end to his destructive policies. That same year, Russia annexed Crimea and launched a war in the east of Ukraine. For more than a decade, Ukraine has been resisting Russian aggression in its many forms. At the outset of the war, Ukraine was in a deeply challenging political, economic, and social condition, and likely appeared an easy target for the aggressor. Despite enduring continuous conflict with a powerful enemy, the nation has managed to preserve its sovereignty, demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity, and gain invaluable experience in reclaiming its territory.
Ten years ago, the vision for Ukraine’s future was vastly different from what it is today. Many of Ukraine’s politicians held pro-Russian views, with their decision-making often shaped by the country’s reliance on the Russian Federation. At that time, most Ukrainians were only beginning to rediscover their national identity and forge a collective sense of purpose, which involved a deeper understanding of the importance of language and culture. Ukrainians were grappling with the legacy of their coexistence with the empire and its lasting influence on their collective consciousness.
In addition to facing external challenges, Ukraine has implemented a series of reforms and fostered cooperation across various sectors over the past ten years. The pace, focus, and quality of these actions may still be open to debate, but during this difficult period, the country has undergone significant changes. In recent years, the state has strengthened its sovereignty in the eyes of the international community and gained support from foreign partners. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s economy, politics, culture, and military have finally rid themselves of Russian influence. In this piece, we revisit the key state and societal changes from 2014 to February 2024.
How the Ukrainian army has been reforming under fire
A reformed and more powerful Ukrainian army is one of the key achievements of the past decade. When you are neighbouring a terrorist state, your defence capabilities are crucial for both survival and reform. Since 2014, the Ukrainian Army has undergone one of the most dramatic transformations in its modern history, both in terms of size and quality.
In 2013, a number of military experts backed up by servicemen pointed out weaknesses in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), including a lack of financing, a legacy of Soviet standards, an urgent need to update technologies, and insufficient social support for the soldiers. Russia’s military occupation of Ukraine’s territory, where they seized weapons, military equipment, and other resources for their further advancement in the war, also undermined the capacity of the Ukrainian army.
Under these dire circumstances, the Ukrainian army managed to muster its strength, with some people responding to the draft call while others volunteered to become soldiers. Still, there was another group who, working as volunteers, took it upon themselves to supply the army with food, arms, equipment and camouflage nets. Along with local charitable initiatives and fundraisers, organisations and funds arose to support the military systematically. Those were the likes of Come Back Alive, Army SOS, Motohelp, Zgraya and others. The experience gained back then became an important asset after the Russian Federation launched a full-scale war in 2022. By that moment, Ukrainians had gained understanding of how to set up an aid system, charitable organisations had grown their own communities, and the culture of donations and charitable work scaled up.
The transformative change of the Ukrainian Defence Forces began with military reform in 2014. The reform aimed to break away from the Soviet legacy, enhance the country’s defence by adopting NATO principles and standards, and improve the efficiency of planning and resource management systems.
Introducing NATO standards to military training
After proclaiming its independence in 1991, Ukraine has participated in numerous international drills. Since 2014, the country has significantly increased its joint military exercises with NATO membering states, including the USA, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Italy, and others. Among these, Operation Orbital stands out for its scale and the number of troops involved, with British instructors training over 22,000 Ukrainian servicemen between 2014 and 2022. Despite the full-scale invasion, in the summer of 2022, Operation Orbital was relocated to the UK to continue the training.
Following the British instructors’ example, military personnel from countries like New Zealand, the Netherlands, Canada, and others also moved their training operations for Ukrainian soldiers. Operation Unifier, which will continue until 2026, involves the Canadian Armed Forces running boot camps for Ukrainian troops. This operation makes up a crucial part of an international joint effort aimed at reforming the Ukrainian army.
Building a stronger Ukrainian army
Since 2004, the Ukrainian army has consisted of three main branches: the Ground Forces, the Air Force, and the Navy. The most recent reforms introduced several additional branches, including the Special Operations Forces, the Highly Mobile Air Assault Forces (rebranded as the Air Assault Forces in November 2017), and the Territorial Defence Forces.
Additionally, nearly two dozen combat brigades were established, alongside new regiments, battalions, and units for operational, combat, rear, and technical support. The number of troops grew rapidly to 250,000 before the full-scale invasion, and surged to 700,000 after February 2022. As of January 2024, according to an interview with Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the German broadcaster ARD, the Ukrainian army had expanded to 880,000 soldiers, including both men and women.
Compared to 2014, the number of women in the Ukrainian army has also risen significantly. According to the Personnel Centre of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, by October 2023, the number of female soldiers in combat positions had also increased.
Boosting domestic arms manufacturing
Over the past decade, Ukraine has developed and produced a variety of new weapons and equipment, which have been used by its forces alongside foreign supplies. Some examples that have been made public are listed below.
In 2009, the Ukrainian company Research and Manufacturing Association PRACTICA began producing the Kozak armoured personnel carrier, with several models available. This vehicle has been deployed to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service. Known for its high mobility, the Kozak is equipped with armour capable of withstanding 7.62 calibre bullets. Additionally, it can be outfitted with a variety of weapons, enhancing its versatility in combat.
The Leleka-100, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Ukrainian company Derivo, comes in several modifications. It is valued for its compactness, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency in combat situations. The Leleka-100 provides critical reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities.
Photo: Volodymyr Pashchuk for the Come Back Alive Foundation
The Ukrainian self-propelled artillery system (SPG) “Bohdana” was designed for a 155mm calibre, in line with NATO standards. The first prototype was unveiled on 14 July 2018. “Bohdana” saw its combat debut during the liberation of Zmiinyi Island in the summer of 2022. Alongside artillery provided by Western partners, it was used to fire on enemy positions. In early 2023, Ukraine secured funding for the serial production of updated models of the “Bohdana”.
How allied nations are supporting Ukraine’s military
Innovations and changes in combat tactics have driven the need for modern weapons. In 2018, the USA sold 37 Javelin launchers and 200 missiles to Ukraine, followed by another delivery in 2019 of 10 more launchers and 150 missiles.
As the full-scale war unfolded, the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) increasingly relied on Javelins, supplied by the allies. In addition, the Swedish-British NLAW anti-tank guided missile systems and ma…
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