A Dutch marine veteran says battlefield innovations born in Ukraine already reshape allied training and doctrine. His account reveals urgent gaps in Western preparedness.
Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine has radically changed approaches to combat and prompted NATO countries to reassess their military doctrines.
In The Hague, Robin Imthorn, a Dutch Marine, veteran and expert in psychological rehabilitation and post-traumatic growth, told a correspondent.
The nature of war itself does not change, as it used to be; it is still fought by people. But the means and mechanisms of warfare are changing. Ukraine is learning incredibly quickly and is ramping up production very fast. We in the West are lagging behind, and we are aware of it. Russia is also aware of this lag. What is happening in Ukraine today is already influencing the training of troops in NATO countries. For example, in the Dutch Marine Corps, training in drone operation has already been included in basic training. This was not the case before. Now new recruits from day one undergo training in the use of drones and working with digital command systems
– Robin Imthorn
According to him, there is an active exchange of experience between Ukraine and the Netherlands – “we are learning from each other”.
But the fastest way to absorb the lessons of war, Imthorn stated, is, unfortunately, to fight.
Ukraine began this war relying on the experience of the United States, the Netherlands, and other allies, but today it is already sharing its combat experience with partners. Now Ukraine is one of the leading innovators in how to wage war in the 21st century. We are seeing radical changes. NATO still has a lot of work to do, as our traditional notions of war no longer fully align with modern realities. The basic principles remain unchanged, but the tools and methods of conducting combat are evolving very rapidly.
According to the expert’s conclusions, these trends indicate a need for further adaptation of Western armies to modern realities.
Prospects for the development of defense practices
In the context of these changes, Ukraine takes a leading role as the initiator of innovations in 21st-century warfare, and exchanging experiences with partners remains the foundation for the future improvement of defense and security on the European continent.