Russian & Ukrainian Military Adaptation in War
Russia’s invasion of and war in Ukraine is vividly highlighting how militaries adapt (and don’t) during wartime. From “cope cages” to drones dropping hand grenades, and everything in between, the armed forces of both Moscow and Kyiv are demonstrating the real-time iteration and evolution (successful or otherwise) of doctrine, technology, and leadership in combat. What lessons should the United States and its allies draw from this adaptation? What does the adaption of Russia and Ukraine’s forces suggest about both sides’ ability to prosecute the war? What does the respective adaption tell us about both countries’ military culture? Joining CSPC to discuss these questions and more are Lt. Gen. David Barno and Dr. Nora Bensahel—authors of “Adaptation Under Fire”—and Michael Kofman, the director of CNA’s Russia Studies Program.
Speakers
Lieutenant General David W. Barno, USA (Ret.) is a Visiting Professor of Strategic Studies and Senior Fellow at the Merrill Center of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He is also a Contributing Editor and Columnist for War on the Rocks, and an Adjunct Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses.
Dr. Nora Bensahel is a Visiting Professor of Strategic Studies and Senior Fellow of the Merrill Center at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a Contributing Editor and Columnist for War on the Rocks. She is also an Adjunct Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses. Her work focuses on the future of warfare, and military strategy and operations. She is the co-author of the recently-published book Adaptation Under Fire: How Militaries Change in Wartime, and currently serves on the Executive Board of the Leadership Council for Women in National Security (LCWINS).
Michael Kofman serves as Research Program Director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA and as a Fellow at the Kennan Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, DC. His research focuses on the Russia and the former Soviet Union, specializing in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy. Mr. Kofman is also a Senior Editor at War on the Rocks, where he regularly authors articles on strategy, the Russian military, Russian decision-making, and related foreign policy issues. He runs a personal blog on the Russian armed forces at https://russianmilitaryanalysis.wordpress.com/