The full-scale war against Ukraine sets new rules and military doctrines that have to be taken into account when building a collective European security system aligned with new challenges and technologies.
This war is totally turning the traditional concepts of warfare upside down: aviation can no longer control space without hindrance, while large ships and advanced tanks are no longer invincible and can be destroyed by drones. The latter have become a key element, capable of effectively countering heavy equipment by performing reconnaissance, targeting and destruction. Therefore, to address modern threats successfully, Europe’s future security architecture must take into account new challenges and opportunities, including Ukraine’s experience and best practices.
Today, European intelligence agencies are repeatedly reporting that Russia could be ready for a new war against the EU in 2030, and European leaders are saying that Moscow poses an existential threat to Europe, as well as to Ukraine. February 24, 2022, divided the world into “before” and “after.” Security on the European continent can only be guaranteed by Russia’s military defeat.
The Russian military is an army with real combat experience of high-tech and high-intensity warfare, with rapid adjustment at the tactical level: it actively develops and uses drones, artillery, electronic warfare and massively uses manpower to advance and break through the defence. The main feature of the Russians in comparison to European armies is the acceptability of ultra-high human losses in order to achieve strategic goals. According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, in just 5 months of 2025, Russian losses amounted to 185,000 people. The total losses of the Russian army since 2022 are approaching 1 million people.
Since December 2024, the number of Russian troops is about 1.5 million, and further increase of the army by 150,000 is planned for 2025. As of March 2025, the land component of the Russian troops in the war is about 620,000, including more than 200,000 assault units on the front line.
To expand the army, Russia offers contracts with favourable terms (approximately $38,000 per contract), social benefits and bonuses. One contract soldier costs the budget about $3,000 per month. Russia is also actively recruiting mercenaries abroad, offering $2,000 for signing a contract, health insurance and a Russian passport for the soldier and his family.
Simultaneously and separately, Russia is using cyber and missile attacks on infrastructure, terrorist attacks against civilians, sabotage, an extensive network of agents, information and propaganda, and other tools to reduce the moral capacity of the army and civilians to resist aggression.
The full article is published on EW
Author: Serhii Kuzan
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine