Battle planning by NATO standards: How Ukrainian soldiers adopting foreign expertise

NATO's experience in Russia-Ukraine war realities

The course program was developed in 2022 based on the standards of NATO armies and the experience of the Russia-Ukraine war. Training cases for battle planning were created on the examples of the defense of Kyiv, Chernihiv, and the Zaporizhzhia offensive. They are constantly being improved based on the study and implementation of the experience of Ukrainian soldiers.

“It all started with the idea of Brigadier General Serhii Sobko, who was the Chief of Staff of the Territorial Defense Command at the time. He was well aware of the need to strengthen the training of the fighters, most of whom were volunteers. Some of them had graduated from military departments purely formally according to the old Soviet doctrine, but this knowledge was outdated for the tasks they would have to perform in 2022,” says Andrii Matskiv, a senior instructor at the Captains School.

All of the course instructors have combat experience - most were company commanders in the army. They have also undergone relevant training in the UK.

“Our task was to evaluate how NATO military build their training, what they pay attention to, and how they achieve high results. The foreign instructors were delighted with how we accomplished the task. At the end of the course, a combat major who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan said he liked that we wanted to quickly master the course and return to our homeland to continue defending it,” the instructor adds.

Andrii Matskiv, senior instructor of the Captains' School (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)

After the instructors were trained in the UK, in the fall of 2022, the first 5 groups were launched for a 6-week course, as it was difficult for many unit commanders to let officers who were performing combat missions go for a longer program.

“After the first graduation, there were many satisfied commanders, and our students said they would like to listen to and practice some more courses. The second Captains School lasted for 7 weeks because we added new subjects, and the third lasted for 8 weeks. Now the program has been brought up to the requirements of an accredited course and it lasts 12 weeks,” says Matskiv.

Students of the course at the presentation of certificates (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)

Students of the course at the presentation of certificates (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)

Course was introduced into program of a military institution for the first time

In April 2024, the Captains School became part of the structure of the Military Institute of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and became a course of professional military education. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine approved its program.

Throughout the three-month course, officers from all regions of Ukraine studied Troop Leading Procedures and Military Decision Making Process, shared combat experience, and developed leadership skills. The students also took an online course on the use of technology in warfare from Victory Drones and practiced using the Kropyva software and the Delta situational awareness system.

“Our students are taught by instructors and lecturers who are combat officers. We start by teaching leadership, psychology, tactical training, and general topics. Then we move on to very professional disciplines, such as planning for a combined arms battle and the military decision-making process,” says Matskiv.

Course participants during the training (photo: Captains School)

Course participants during the training (photo: Captains School)

Course participants during the training (photo: Captains School)

This is one of the first courses to switch to the WGS-84 global geodetic system and the first course to add to the program the study and planning of the use of unmanned ground systems (evacuation, logistics, mine, kamikaze) and unmanned aircraft systems (including FPV).

The training program at the Military Institute of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is being implemented with the support of the Come Back Alive Charity Foundation.

“High-quality, modern, fast, and effective military education is possible in Ukraine. The precedent of the Captains School proved it. Now we have to work on scaling this experience to the entire military education system,” says Taras Chmut, director of Come Back Alive.

He also adds that in the future they want to involve as many branches, services and departments of the Ukrainian Defense Forces as possible.

“The battlefield changes every six months, and the School's team quickly adapts to these changes, the course evolves and provides students with the most up-to-date knowledge. We believe that the skills acquired here will help officers effectively perform combat missions, return from the war alive, and retain their personnel,” Chmut says.

The course program has been extended to 3 months and approved by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)

The course program has been extended to 3 months and approved by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)

The course program has been extended to 3 months and approved by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)

“Only the mind is sharper than the sword”

Traditionally, upon completion of the Captains School course, the best instructor is awarded the Captain's saber with the inscription “Only the mind is sharper than the sword.” This slogan reflects the course's philosophy that knowledge is the key to combat.

“I was a student of the first pilot training, at that time I was a company commander in a Territorial Defense unit. The training lasted 6 weeks. I was third in the ranking among about 60 graduates. That was the first time I was awarded a saber. The commander hands it over to the best instructor, who keeps it until the next presentation,” says Andrii "Screen" Hladchenko, an instructor at the Tactical Training Department of the Military Faculty of Postgraduate Education of the Military Institute of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

During the 8th stream of the training, the saber was presented to Hladchenko, who previously commanded a company in the 112th Brigade of the Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and participated in battles for Kyiv and Donetsk region.

Andriy “Screen” Hladchenko was presented with the Captains' saber (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)

Hladchenko with the Captains' saber (photo: RBC-Ukraine)

“This is the best training that is currently available for company-level commanders. It has a structured presentation of material that gives a clear understanding of how everything should work and why. Only those officers who will need this course and who will be able to complete it with dignity and gain important knowledge are enrolled,” says Major Volodymyr "Trava" (Grass in Ukrainian - ed.)) Dehtiariov of the 112th Battalion.

Officers are enrolled in the course on the recommendation of their commanders. Almost all students graduate. In rare cases, the leadership has to recall them to perform combat missions.

“The main thing in this course is to teach Territorial Defense commanders to plan a battle according to the standards of NATO armies. This is the core of the program. According to their procedures, we have already planned battles in the city and landings. So this is the knowledge that can be applied in war,” says a fighter with the call sign "Lel".

The knowledge gained at the course will help officers in combat (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)

The knowledge gained at the course will help officers in combat (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)

The knowledge gained at the course will help officers in combat (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)

According to him, the course participants practiced training situations, analyzed the terrain, and followed the required protocol for the order of tasks. Officers had to plan a battle and communicate to their subordinates what exactly is required of them.

“The course is well designed, and the main thing is that it is not just theory. We practiced the program ourselves several times and in different conditions, so we consolidated this knowledge with each step. I am sure that this will really help me to plan a battle better and faster in the war. And the main thing is to save the lives of our defenders,” adds "Lel".

Upon completion of the training, the graduates received state-issued L-1C certificates.

The Captains School is planned to be introduced into the curricula of other military institutions (photo: Military Institute of Kyiv National University)