Zaluzhny Explained How To Impose A New War Strategy On Russia And Win
6- 24.09.2025, 13:50
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Photo: Reuters
No "meat grinders."
Ukraine can deprive Russian Federation of the ability to dictate the terms of war, and this will already mean victory, explained Valeriy Zaluzhny, former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and now ambassador to the UK. With modern, innovative weapons that were not available during the 2023 offensive, the Ukrainians will defend themselves, even when resources are scarce.
The DSEI-2025 arms exhibition was held in London, and it turned out that the Ukrainian military-industrial complex was showing modern weapons, according to Zaluzhny's column for the media Zerkalo Nedeli. Meanwhile, most other expositions showed weapons samples of "past war" and most military visitors were "not of European origin."
Zaluzhny about the war - details
The former AFU commander-in-chief recalled the 2023 offensive, which was accompanied by leaks and over-enthusiasm from politicians and media, and his thoughts on the technological breakthrough that could bring an advantage in a war with Russian Federation. Having attended DSEI-2025, he was once again convinced that Ukraine does have a chance to defeat Moscow by relying on innovation. However, in today's context, victory is to make sure that the Kremlin does not impose its terms and turn the war into "operationally meaningless for Russia." According to Zaluzhny, the military innovations to be introduced in the AFU are to compensate for the lack of resources that will result in "disproportionate losses" for the Russians.
In the column, Zaluzhny analyzed the 2023 offensive, which, in his opinion, followed the experience of World War I. The former commander-in-chief explained that it was a positional war in which the opponents create an echeloned line of defense opposite each other, it is possible to attack only "head-on", and the military set up strong positions that can hold a large number of people. A way out of such a situation was invented during World War II thanks to armored vehicles and aircraft, the article says.
At the same time, during the Russian-Ukrainian war, the Kremlin invented its own tactics for advancing in positional warfare. In particular, it involved squeezing Ukrainians out of their positions thanks to human "meat grinders" into which the Russians threw themselves. Meanwhile, the AFU could not advance because there was a shortage of human and other resources.
"Also this [the failed offensive - ed.] was possible because some commanders did not understand the importance of replacing combat-ready units and preparing them for offensive actions," Zaluzhny added.
War with Russia - the experience of 2024-2025
The former commander-in-chief analyzed the course of the war with Russia in 2024-2025. He explained that at first the Russians made limited use of UAVs for precision strikes. Then they adopted the experience of using FPV drones from the Ukrainians and planned offensive operations involving light armored vehicles. However, these ideas did not reverse the positional warfare, but instead created a 40-kilometer zone in which logistics, equipment, and manpower are under attack. On the front line, infantry poses a particular threat: in this context, Zaluzhny recalled problems with mobilization.
To change the situation, the Russian Federation invented a new tactic - infiltration by small combat groups. Captured Russians tell of a ratio of one successful attack to eight unsuccessful ones. But in return there is a result - Ukrainians are being pushed back from their positions and the RF Armed Forces are advancing.
Ukraine can stop the creeping advance of the RF and gain an advantage in the war, Zaluzhny believes, and for this purpose he suggests the following way out:
the state should coordinate advanced defense technologies (especially anti-drone and AI solutions);
mobilize IT specialists who will work on armed technologies. In addition, it is necessary to improve the training of AFU fighters, reform and minimize casualties;
Western partners should establish supplies/manufacturing of radio elements, components, chips, as well as establish uninterrupted supplies of weapons.
"It is innovation that will lead to the application of a strategy of sustainable resistance in conditions of, if not constant war, then constant hostility. This will allow us to survive, adapt and win without illusions, making war operationally pointless for Russia," Zaluzhny concluded.
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