The Army is trying to learn from Russian fighting in Ukraine, according to the Army chief of staff.

“This conflict is not over. It is very, very serious,” said Gen. James McConville in an interview with Government Matters. The fighting has now gone on for more than 100 days with no end in sight.

“We are watching everything that is going on,” McConville said. It appears Russia made some early leadership mistakes as it invaded Ukraine, especially when it came to logistics. Ukraine has shown its forces have “extremely strong” will, which for them has made a “huge difference in the early part of this conflict,” McConville said.

The Russians’ logistics problems reinforce the U.S. Army’s push to have operating forces less reliant on truck-delivered fuel. Reduced fuel consumption on the battlefield would make the Army “more ready” and lessen the logistical challenges of moving fuel across a conflict zone, McConville said. 

“Anything we can do to reduce the amount of fuel on the battlefield is to our advantage,” he said, adding that it is too soon to have all-electric tactical vehicles but not too soon to field some hybrid vehicles that would use less fuel.

“We are very, very concerned about the ability to move logistics on the battlefield, and I would suggest that our Army does it as well as anybody,” he said.