Outdated Soviet Standards Under Fire in Military Training
Hennadii Druzenko, a volunteer and active serviceman, has sharply criticized the continued use of Soviet-era standards in training Ukrainian troops. He argues these approaches are obsolete and fail to meet the demands of modern warfare. As an example, Druzenko pointed to ongoing debates in training programs over the length of a rifle with an attached bayonet—a topic he believes highlights the irrelevance of such standards.
Embracing New Technology on the Battlefield
In a conversation with political analyst Yuriy Romanenko, Druzenko emphasized the critical role of emerging technologies in war, noting that unmanned systems units are already pioneering future combat concepts. In these units, soldiers operate drones using computer monitors rather than traditional sights.
“You see the enemy on a screen, not through a front sight or a collimator,” he explained.
Druzenko also shared striking results from his own unit, which destroyed enemy equipment worth a total of $14 billion over four years.
“At that point, my fragile psyche couldn’t take it, and I said: Sergeant, have you been to war? He says: Yes, I have, I was wounded. I say: Great. Honor, respect, praise—I’ve been there too,” he recounted.
Druzenko’s remarks underscore the urgent need to modernize military training in Ukraine, especially in a war where technology plays a pivotal role. Shifting training approaches could significantly boost the effectiveness of military operations and help troops adapt to new challenges on the battlefield.
The value of firsthand combat experience further highlights the importance of integrating practical knowledge into training curricula, which could enhance the readiness of Ukrainian forces to tackle missions in today’s conflict environment.
As the Ukrainian military grapples with the need for modernization, recent decisions highlight the challenges faced during training. The removal of training authority from eight military units by Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi underscores the urgency of adopting new methodologies. Such changes are crucial for ensuring that troops are adequately prepared for the complexities of contemporary warfare.