ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

The war in Ukraine has many lessons for the U.S. Army and its partners and allies, experts said May 16 during a panel discussion at the Association of the U.S. Army’s 2023 LANPAC Symposium and Exposition in Honolulu. They also cautioned that it is possible to learn the wrong lessons.

The war in Ukraine is “far from over” as Russia remains a significant threat and China continues to increase its influence in several European sectors, the officer in charge of U.S. forces in Europe said.

In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command and NATO’s supreme allied commander, said the U.S. “remains optimistic for Ukraine’s future, but this war is far from over,” because while Russia shows no sign of relenting, it is not the only problem facing the European alliance.

Speaking Feb. 15 at a NATO ministerial conference, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Russia’s “reckless war of choice” represents the worst European security crisis since World War II and requires a “fundamental shift” in the alliance’s collective defense and deterrence efforts.

The U.S. Army could face years of ammunition shortages because of supplies provided to Ukraine unless efforts are made to increase manufacturing, a bipartisan policy research group says. 

The Center for Strategic and International Studies warns of potentially critical shortages in Stinger and Javelin missiles and in 155-millimeter shells that could, in extreme cases, take years to replace. 

The power of information operations is one of the biggest lessons the Army can learn from the war in Ukraine, two Army special operations leaders said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been a “powerful” figure as he’s put the spotlight on Russia’s attack on his people and his country and sought to motivate the other nations of the world to support the Ukrainians’ fight, said Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, commander of Army Special Operations Command.