The intricacies of the battlefields in the Ukraine-Russia war are numerous, as most military leaders and politicians continue to do nothing but complicate the situation. Coupled with a dysfunctional approach to conflict resolution, the issue of military leadership takes center stage.
From an American perspective, the origins of this war are quite clear. Russian President Vladimir Putin views the annexation of Ukrainian territory as a logical step toward reconstituting the empire that was the former Soviet Union. He has never abandoned that ambition, and if one is to believe him, he never will.
In Putin’s bloodthirsty quest for Soviet reconsolidation, Russian combat losses as of February 2025 are estimated to be between 600,000 and 860,000, which aligns with Ukraine’s General Staff claims of over 819,000 total Russian casualties (killed, wounded, captured, or missing).
As reported by The Washington Post, Capt. Oleh Shyriaev, commander of Ukraine’s 225th Assault Regiment whose troops crossed the border into Russia on Aug. 6, observes:
“This is a story of principle for Putin, first and foremost. He threw [his] ready-made and best brigades here. These are trained, confident types…We are fighting the elite.”
Shyriaiev, whose Assault Regiment successfully destroyed Russian drone warehouses, armored vehicles, arsenals, and ammunition depots, said, “We deflected 60,000 Russian troops in [the] Kursk region and we will not go anywhere.”
Shyriaev is an example of several brave and clever Ukrainian military leaders to watch. He evolved from a regional police commander to the leader of the 225th Assault Regiment, acquiring numerous awards for valor in the process, including the Order “For Courage”, the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, and the title of “Hero of Ukraine.”
Addressing the North Korean troops who have been dispatched to fight for the Russian Army along their border and who Shyriaev has engaged in Dumka, a Ukrainian publication, he observed; “North Koreans have been brought in to augment Russian forces. Their tactics do not differ much from those of World War II. But a crucial factor is their ideological indoctrination. For them, dying under orders—for their leader—is like a jihadist dying for his cause.”
“That makes them a formidable adversary,” Shyriaev said. “We assess them as highly capable units, which we are currently grinding down, but it must be noted that they also grind down our troops in their assaults—purely through manpower, purely through sheer numbers.”
When discussing the war influence in the eastern cities of Ukraine Kharkiv and Sumy - and effectively the entire Ukrainian-Russia war—Shyriaev offered a cautionary expectation, stating he didn’t believe a “truce” was possible. “This enemy is our historical enemy. We are a country that, according to their military doctrine, they consider territory to be seized. And they will not stop,” he said.
With that in mind, Ukraine and its people are fighting for their very existence at a tremendous cost of blood and resources. Conservative estimates place Ukrainian casualties through February at about 46,000 killed, 50,000 lost in action and over 390,000 wounded. Additionally, estimates suggest that more than 6.9 million Ukrainians have fled the country due to the ongoing war.
While the geopolitical ramifications of the war’s outcome are undoubtedly significant, the sheer inhumanity surrounding the loss of life must urgently motivate those striving to broker dignified peace for Ukraine, which requires true Ukrainian military leadership. History tells us that military leadership is a function of training and experience, while military statesmanship is predicated on charisma, a quality that cannot be acquired through experience alone.
Ukraine needs military leadership that is distinct from the post-Soviet military paradigm. Its military needs to embrace technology-driven solutions in the war theatre and deploy technology to outmaneuver the enemy.
To survive the ongoing assault by Putin against the Ukrainian people, Ukraine needs to cultivate charismatic and tech-savvy military leadership. The beneficiaries of military leaders such as that of Shyriaev will be the American taxpayers, European allies, and - especially the Ukrainian people who have sacrificed and endured so very much.
Christian Josi is a veteran political advisor and public affairs professional, and a regularly featured columnist. He is the founder and managing director of C. Josi & Company, a global communications consultancy.
