Instead of weaker Ukraine, Russia now faces battle-hardened military
Russian President Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Over four years of full-scale war, Ukraine has transformed into one of the world's most technologically advanced militaries — and that may prove to be one of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's biggest failures, according to the Atlantic Council.
From volunteer battalions to a global leader
In 2014, Ukraine was saved by a grassroots movement — volunteers formed battalions in the open air to stop the Russian invasion.
The country was not fully liberated at the time, but the aggressor's advance was halted.
After 2014, large-scale military reforms based on NATO standards began.
The army grew to several hundred thousand troops, and it became the foundation for the much larger armed forces that emerged after February 2022.
Drones, tactics, and young commanders
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian military has undergone another transformation. New tactics, young talented commanders, and technological innovations were all implemented quickly and without excessive bureaucracy.
Today, Ukraine is a global leader in drone warfare. Ukrainian companies have developed drones that:
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Dominate the battlefield;
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Secured an advantage in the Battle of the Black Sea;
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Strike targets thousands of kilometers deep inside Russia.
Notably, during NATO exercises, Ukrainian units repeatedly outperformed their allies — prompting partners to reconsider their own approaches.
Europe rethinks Ukraine's role
In the spring of 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered Gulf countries assistance in countering Iranian drones.
This forced the world to look at Ukraine in a new way — no longer as a security burden, but as a full-fledged player.
NATO countries are lining up to learn from Ukrainian drone warfare instructors. Joint production initiatives with Ukrainian defense companies are also on the agenda.
Putin's failure
One of the two main objectives that the Kremlin leader cited for the February 2022 invasion was the "demilitarization" of Ukraine. However, the result has been the opposite: Russia now has one of the most militarized countries in Europe on its border.
The leader now faces two scenarios — and neither is favorable:
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Agree to peace and accept the presence of a permanently hostile and heavily armed Ukraine next door;
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Continue the war and risk Ukraine's military potential growing even further, threatening the stability of the regime.
It recently became known that Ukrainian drones have struck more than 800,000 enemy targets since the beginning of the year. Drones now account for more than 90% of all losses inflicted on Russian forces, according to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
Ukraine has developed a unique naval drone designed to hunt Russian aircraft.
In addition, the Ukrainian company Global Mark has created the Sea Trident underwater drone. It is capable of covertly delivering payloads weighing up to one ton to strike strategic facilities and large Russian ships.
