On February 24th, 2022, Ukraine was invaded by Putin. Attacking from the east and the north (through Belarus), Russian troops entered Ukrainian soil and the worst-case scenario that everyone feared came to existence; Russian troops were actively on their way towards Kyiv. But how did Ukraine fend off this (prepared) attack that went under the veil as a “military training exercise” in less than a year? How did Ukrainian troops get trained to be able to defend their country so well?
Topics mentioned:
- Military training
- Focus during dire situations to make necessary strategic decisions
The reason Ukrainian soldiers were able to fend off the initial attack.
From the moment Putin decided to invade Ukraine, up until the moment the progression towards Kyiv became stagnant, it only took about 3.5 months. There was a lot of territory gain in the east, but of course, the capital was and remains the main objective. And within 3.5 months their best shot and progression towards said capital was gone, halted by Ukrainian soldiers. After the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia, Ukraine rapidly modernized its military, military training, coming to a point where they reached NATO standards (even though they’re not a NATO member) to be prepared against anything, and anyone.
Having a good military is cool of course, but what about the backbone, the soldiers?
Well, it’s good that you’re curious. The training of the average UAF (Ukraine Armed Forces) soldier is somewhat basic, but very effective. Their training consists of jogging/sprinting specific distances to emphasize on close combat and urban warfare. Furthermore, they also undergo weightlifting training with a big focus on compound movements, such as squats, deadlifts and pressing movements. Agility is also somewhat of a focus, being trained by also implementing calisthenic movements such as the traditional push ups and sit ups.
What does focus have to do with all of this?
You see, military training is not just physical training, it’s also mental. Being able to make key decisions in conflicts such as a war, is something every military leader must be able to do. That’s why the military training for the UAF is also suited for mental growth. With some courses here and there and official aid packages from the EU, that also feature mental health guides and aid, the UAF is prepared more than ever to assist their soldiers with military training on both the physical and mental level. To remain calm, and not freak out whenever an unpleasant situation happens in war, is something that not everyone can go through. Regardless of all of this, war is and remains, hell.