Ukraine has withstood the trials of a full-scale invasion and proven to the world its ability to effectively resist the force that was previously dubbed the world’s second army.
This view was expressed by Austrian military expert, retired Brigadier General of the Austrian Armed Forces, Herald Karner, during an interview given to journalists.
“February 24, 2022, I could not have imagined that Ukraine would be able to hold out for so long. But after only a few weeks it became increasingly evident that the Russian attack had not been very carefully planned and, most importantly, very poorly executed”
– Herald Karner
According to him, Russia seriously miscalculated, primarily in its assessment of Ukraine’s ability to resist.
He also stressed that the myth of the Russian army’s superiority was shattered before the eyes of the international community.
“Ukraine has essentially shattered this myth – it is absolutely evident”
– Herald Karner
Karner added that an assessment of the actions of the United States during the war provides a clear picture: political economy and military strategy in the United States are undergoing reevaluation, and remarks about a “paper tiger” require a more tempered approach to the realities of modern confrontation.
“I fear that the military or military-strategic competence of U.S. President Donald Trump, to put it mildly, is not very high. No, I certainly cannot agree with that. Over these three years Russia has made significant efforts to adapt to Ukrainian defense. It has repeatedly achieved certain successes and built up enormous capabilities, particularly in the production and use of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles, etc. Russia has shown that it can adapt, and if not restrained, will remain a real threat to Western Europe”
– Herald Karner
In his account, Karner also noted the view of another expert: Gustav Glessel, a lecturer at the National Defence Academy of Austria, who in an interview expressed the view that real negotiations to end the war could begin only on the condition of the aggressor’s clear defeat.
Conclusions and their impact on the broader context
Overall, the statements by Austrian experts indicate that even amid challenging events, the world recognizes the resilience of Ukraine’s defense and its ability to alter the course of the conflict. Such assessments emphasize the importance of changing approaches in planning and resource use in modern wars, where adaptability and technology prevail.