Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1467328
in Syria. The war machine per se is not working as it should. The elements that seem to be a go-to solution are meanwhile overused. The errors do not explain the unfolding events and the results of the fights in their entirety. The fact is that the Ukrainians only publicize the activities of the light infantry utilizing western- made light ATGW and anti-aircraft systems. This makes it possible to create a positive narrative addressed both to the Ukrainian society, as well to the observers abroad. The David vs. Goliath narrative here shows ordinary citizens (and foreign volunteers) who are protecting their homes and families, fighting a mighty invader operating heavy equipment. The fact is, that this is not the whole picture. The war in Ukraine, in general, is a conventional full-scale conflict. This is visible in the case of the Ukrainian military action. The air defense system is layered - from S-300, Buk, and Osa systems, to Piorun MANPADS. The rocket and tube artillery has seen extensive use, with the shelling being adjusted by observers on the ground and UAVs. Meanwhile, in the land domain, both heavy units (armored, mechanized), as well as light elements (SOF, territorial defense), play an important role. The operations in question are boosted, when it comes to their effectiveness - by deliveries of anti-tank weapons, and by the fact that Ukraine has access to intel gathered, for instance, by E-3 Sentry or EC-135 Rivet Joints flying over Poland. The time may come to analyze the individual battles and campaigns of this war. But one thing is certain. The activities undertaken by the Ukrainian military are not 6th or 666th generation warfare. It is not a new model army. These activities are typical for conventional warfare, according to the rules written years ago. The impact of technological advancements is indeed visible. Nonetheless, that factor only modifies the canonically standard course of events. It is not a revolutionary change. Certainly, no conclusions can be drawn based on the limited evidence on the dominance or dusk of certain types of weapons or tactics. ANALYSIS