This is the conversation that so many people need to see. The changing warfare is so important to realize, this is NEWS! I need to go back to my Kyiv Independence article you wrote on this topic. Military arrogance is so bad. Working together is a problem with the way they are thinking. Thank you Mr G Grant and Johnathan❤️👍 We need to get people’s attention, this is not loud enough!!!
Absolutely spot on gentlemen. From my eyes and ear on the ground since 2014. There was a huge gap between Veterans and the civilian attitude towards the war Donbas. My friends were just getting out and waiting to go back to work. And good work they do! Glory to the heroes and glory to 🇺🇦!
Sobering, unvarnished conversations like these have led me as a teacher to add a segment on building resilience in times of geopolitical upheaval. Students get 4 short case studies on Ukrainian firms' horizontal expansion (easy to find, there's one on BetterMe, Monobank, BraBraBra and McPaw for example). They analyse how these companies are helping their country in innovative ways. Then they design their own proposals for what corporations in their country can do if and when they experience unrest. Too many educators in the West avoid the topic altogether. That needs to stop yesterday. When young people see there are things that they can do to make a meaningful difference, they start to think creatively in a positive way. We need to get our collective heads out of the sand in the EU and help the next generation develop innovative thinking habits that may help save their lives very soon.
This is so important. I've seen this ingrained cultural reality myself. It's bewildering if you're not used to it. Especially its appalling stubborness, while people doing it will actually admit how dysfunctional it is. And it's the substrate on which everything else may or may not stand, may or may not hold, may or may not function, may or may not spread any positives it arrives at, etc., etc. A proper culture makes so much difference; can change the world.
Was going to swear but thought better of it. Massive wake up call !!!! This is incredibly enlightening . A huge Thank-you to the speaker… apologies for not remembering his name.
Glen Grant, my favorite. Stay strong, old timer! It's shocking how accurate he can be, most people online don't have 10% of Glen's understanding of today's information. Sometimes I feel, you, Jonathan, listen to him with no military training, and don't get more then 20% of the cues he gives you. Furthermore, he is deeply connected where you don't listen... men on the terrain, he knows, you don't. Ukraine, China... you need new sources, I have them, many have them, you're just missing out.
@@18_rabbit Most people don't have time, the inclination, patience nor interest to learn a foreign language. Sources are all about listening, but to listen you have to understand. Now, if you don't understand, you nave to find people you can trust, people whom understand, people whom comes from the culture you're trying to get a glimpse of, from the inside... which otherwise remains, like in China's case, hermetically closed. Being a "yank" you know Men In Black: Tabloids. The internal internet, "netizens" give you the unfiltered, raw insanity the gov allows and promotes. From outside, one can only see and "hear" the masquerade, whereas from inside it's the most gory and pathological thing you've ever seen. Then again, listening to the "fire hose" of gov promoted venting, which projects a "creativity" that the censors decided suits the gov's agenda, one knows feelings, and very little information per se. For information, one must find expats. And here's the kicker, expats that are unplugged from the propaganda; this is most hard to find and takes years. Former Chinese, the ones whom really get out trust very little, they are constantly under attack and must be protected, like a state secret. So no, I won't give sources, you'll have to find them and charm them, and get to know them, and get in their inner circle and gain access to the information they have for yourself, if they want you to. Trust is a very rare currency, nowadays, really running in short supply. The CCP reach is expanding, and our governments are allowing it to happen, especially in the Labour UK, where they reversed the decision to prevent the CCP from constructing the "Super Embassy", which will serve as an operative hub for the CCP's United Front and the MSS. The US does a little bit more, in certain ways. I'm not a "yank", I'm not even English; but I can point you to a public new "yank", from SA, like Elon, who was in China for 13 plus years Winston Sterzel (SerpentZA). He collected tons of information and communicated most of them, even made a documentary. He pointed to another (a great many other) public source(s), expats whom got bored of the language barrier and general ignorance, and decided they were going to translate the "fire hose" of state sponsored Weibo, the CCP policies, news articles, the only form of Twitter allowed in China, heavily monitored and censored. You'll might have to learn some of the codes , usually numeric, they use to communicate things they cannot say. (5201314 = I love you forever, aka the most common Chinese password! and possibly the most dialed phone number, just to see who's at the end of this line!) These expats have a website called The Great Translation Movement. Note by Cai Xia: "This translation not only exposes the CCP's totalitarian ideology that poisons the Chinese people, ...it also reminds global governments and people to be wary of the infiltration and poisoning of the CCP's external propaganda, false information, false narratives, and misleading public opinion space." The CCP really counts on the language barrier, they really feel like "code talkers". The Uyghurs, Tibetans, Vietnamese, Malay speaking people... I can speak and cook more cultures than you can shake a stick at, and can't learn enough during my life time, which saddens me... meh. WIP, always! Learn some native American dialects as well, it will allow you to connect with great people! Navajo people, Cree people... fantastic people! But other than that, China Insights will give you the tabloids like, the many floods during the night months ago; the EVs on fire and self-driving into... places; the social pathologies I shan't ever discuss here, the manifestations; the recent military coup; the purges; mass organ harvesting and institutes the foreigners go to to pay to get the implants the same day!... all(ish, some do now, a bit) unreported "features", the United Front does a great job at controlling our medias and our own freedom of expression against their freedom to persecute and control. It's all out there. Except for the precious direct lines; these are protected, and I'll die before compromising these, which are life itself, friendship, family. You have to gain the feeling of these people, put yourself in their shoes, remove your local "yank" glasses and become one with them, with empathy and no judgement, you will taste their pain, their fears, their joys, understand everything from their point of view, not only what is reported. Ukraine, there are thousands of channels, all opened and waiting for you to listen. A few days ago, a guy from a drone team said things I had never heard before, how he was in business during Maidan, how he thought they were troublemakers in need of attention, how it took him a long time to recognize what was happening... he is now... doing the Rusoriz waltz with khuylo's orcs. The Russians are talking, the ethnic minorities inside Russia are talking, and outside... the Georgians, Azerbaijanis, Moldavian... no one listens, I do. I go on sites with 1, 4, 20 views! TaiwanPlus News, and Docs, Taiwan Talks, is all great news, better than anything I know; no one goes there! If you ever want to understand how professionals deal with 65 years of Chinese aggression... They are consumed masters and will even give you "yank" news you don't have access to, heck to their whole region, with great details! Taiwan is a fantastic country! It takes time to collect sources. It takes serious work to learn languages. I don't fork around when I militarily learn, collect and document, knowledge, information... And when I hear someone stating bull, especially Jonathan, who I love, he has the best guests and very good insights, but he can be stubborn and I'll keep telling him, like a broken record, the very few, 2, maybe three now, times he resists the real stuff he needs to unlock the evasive mystery, the key to open what he needs. But I can't give access to my head, it's restricted and classified. Same with aboriginals, Japan, all the places that don't radiate a constant flow of data, where you have to politely ask and gain trust to enter... Interest, patience, respect. Communication is not due, one isn't entitled to it, in certain places.... Good luck, I'm not writing this one again!
I like this channel like Chatham House. How it slowly and philosophically discusses the seriousness, and mired in the deep thought. I know you will get to the answer one day. Been watching it since about 2010.
WOW. I just read this man’s piece in Kyiv Post from 2018. WOW. He basically laid out how they needed to shape up their game.. in very good detail. It’s a very long, detailed..systemic analysis with recommendations. OUTSTANDING WORK. I highly recommend you read it. And Poroshenko put it in the trash. WOW…..what a damn shame. He told them how to shape up for a war. IT WAS IGNORED. Shameful.
The vast problems within the Ukrainian army that this guest outlines make what Ukraine has achieved even more inpressive than what I thought. Somehow it is managed to put up a strong defence given the numerical disadvantage it is facing. It also highlights what must be an even greater problem that exists within the ruzzian army. Of course this mindset is very well reported. President Zelenskyy said today that in order to motivate people to fight they must see some success and the ability to protect the skies. More air defence is needed. Western countries call for conscripting children but refuse to close the skies giving people no incentive as their understandable fear is a deterrent.
No western country has ever called for "conscripting children" Some have asked them to lower the age, while the US and a few others asked them to lower to as low as 18 years old... There is no country in the world that considers 18 year olds as children.
This is an extremely important, vital conversation to have! It's horrific that Ukraine, and the West, haven't yet wised up and figured out how to use their resources and man-power properly. The waste of economical and human resources is maddening to think of! It's criminal neglect at best.
Retired Lt. Col. Glen Grant gives a vivid description of the issues and dysfunction within Ukraine's military command. What he describes are the extreme growing pains that a new Democratic Nation State emerging out of being colonized for more than 300 years undergoes. When Ukraine seceded from the USSR in December of 1991, many UA commentators and community leaders warned that Ukraine's progression to a free and democratic State will take at least 10 generation to establish. While under Russia's control in the USSR, Ukraine had almost no export market. All goods produced in Ukraine were exported by Russia. Ninety-nine percent of Ukraine's production was under the control of Russian Colonists appointed by Moscow. Ukrainians had scant governing experience. As soon as Ukraine proclaimed its independence, the financial vultures from the US and Europe flooded Ukraine. Ukrainian's barely had time to catch their breath, when the Rand Corporation made itself an integral part of Ukraine's government, as it undertook to privatize all the Russian controlled State enterprises. During the past 30 years Ukrainians had to survive one economic shock wave after another. I worked in Ukraine in 1991 and part of 1992 and it was heartbreaking for me to witness how the successfully Russia's terrorism squelched the spirit of Ukrainian youth and teens. When I proposed to them several entrepreneurial undertakings, it quickly became evident that my proposal was a foreign and unimaginable concept to them. Under Soviet rule, in 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster devasted Ukraine. It was only with government permission that people living in heavily irradiated areas could relocate per government assignment to a new location. Even before the Chernobyl Disaster, access to housing was strictly controlled by the Kremlin. Ukrainians were accustomed to being denied free agency by the Kremlin throughout their lives. Most Ukrainians are fully aware of how deeply embedded Kremlin Colonists remain in Ukraine. Until Ukrainians experience that more of their lives are in their hands, they remain governed by a deeply ingrained unconscious and subconscious fear of potential Russian colonists in their midst who could disbar them of their life.
Similar situation here in the baltics, early 90s. The Baltic people have broken the bonds, mental and physical, from Russia these past 30 years. Ukraine needs the support to do this as well.
Hi Johnathan and Glen, Regarding the notion of transforming institutions/organizations... My 40+ years of experience in the areas of continuous improvement, operational excellence, reengineering and transformation have provided me with a deep and systemic/holistic understanding of the combinations of mechanisms-of-action and forces-at-play that influence people's patterns of thinking and behaving in general and when confronted with the need to change in particular. So, when it comes to making changes for the better, one of the biggest impediments to making effective and sustainable change is NOT tradition, but rather the persistent of self-interest over collective interest. And if there's anything that drives home the importance of COLLECTIVE INTEREST over self-interest, it's fighting a war. On that note, let me begin with a general observation - based on decades of career experience - that not delivering "bad news" or "new ideas" to a superior is NOT just endemic to the former soviet style of interaction between commanders and their subordinates, but rather, this is a phenomenon that is also rampant throughout corporate American and even in American governmental adn military circles - at ALL LEVELS. One of the best examples I can think of in the US military is the story of John Boyd and his fellow acolytes (aka "The Fighter Mafia") who spent years - if not decades - fighting against the entrenched "bomber mentality" that was prevalent among top-ranking Air Force generals working in the Pentagon throughout the 1970's and 1980's. To make a long (and well documented) story short, those individuals who were members of the Fighter Mafia ended up paying a high price in both their personal and professional lives to bring about a PARADIGM SHIFT that allowed for the design and development of a new generation of high-performance fighter/attack aircraft such as the F-16, F-15, [F/A-18 indirectly], and A-10. Another outstanding example of an entrenched military mind-set that bears noting is that which existed (and may still exist to some extent) in the US Navy. Up until the late 1990's the practice of rigid hierarchical command and control structures were the foundation upon which the Navy's tradition was built upon. It wasn't until a set of unique circumstances provide the opportunity for the commander of a nuclear-powered attack submarine (named the USS Sante Fe) to approach the Navy's traditional command and control structure in a totally "out-of-the-box" transformational manner. The story of how Capt. L. David Marquet (along with all the crew members of the USS Sante Fe) was able to transform the performance of the submarine - within a very short time period (six months for first demonstrable results) - such that within a year the Sante Fe became the BEST PERFORMING SUB in the NUCLEAR NAVY... not just for that evaluation cycle, but the best performing ship in the entire history of the NUCLEAR NAVY. IF interested, Marquest wrote a book entitled "TURN THE SHIP AROUND: A True Story of Turning FOLLOWERS Into LEADERS" that details the transformation process. Also, a very worthwhile 10-minute, animated, RUclips video that explains the transformation mechanism of action is available at the following URL... ruclips.net/video/OqmdLcyES_Q/видео.html Let's hope that something similar in its transformation potential to the Fighter Mafia endeavor and Marquet's LEADER-LEADER modus operandi will take place within both Ukraine's military and governmental structures... SLAVA UKRAINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@SebastianLarsen The war in Ukrain is already changing the thinking of military leaders not just in the West but throughout the entire world. From an industrial perspective, there are classic examples for how to conduct the start-up and scale-up of manufacturing operations being put to use in Ukraine that bear paying attention to. They are not necessarily novel to the world but reenforce concepts and approaches that have proven highly effective in the past. Whether or not Western industrial leaders will be able to recognize the merits of these approaches and begin to think and behave beyond the pervasive and persistent short-termism that tends to dominate thinking and behaving patterns in the business realm remains to be seen... I certainly hope Ukraine will become a beacon of higher-order thinking and behaving that others can and will recognize as such and choose to emulate for all the right reasons.
I am Ukrainian. What the guest says is true. Even our own military cannot catch up quick enough with innovation that's happenning founded from bottom up. People invent new ways to fight using money collected from friends and relatives and only then it is being recognized and scaled while the official documents have no mention of said things because they did not exist before.
Glen, thank you. A breath of fresh air, I feel like I cold actually breathe listening to this interview. Most interviews re: Ukraine I always listen with bated breath as people are morons and have no clue. But Glen knows. Thank you
As Russia falters under mounting military and economic strain, the strategic landscape is shifting. The perceived risks of significant Russian retaliation, including nuclear threats, grow increasingly hollow in the face of their internal crises. Now is the moment for NATO and the EU to act boldly. Ukraine’s strength underscores the urgency of integrating it into both alliances-despite ongoing conflict. Swift membership would not only fortify Eastern Europe against future aggression but also send a powerful message about defending democratic values without hesitation. Your voice could play a pivotal role in advancing this narrative. By highlighting the strategic necessity of rapid integration, you can help shape the discussion Ukraine needs to secure its rightful place in Europe’s future.
This interview is sobering and depressing. The dead hand of Communism is harder to remove than one would think It is amazing that Ukraine is doing as well militarily as it is.
Sternenko has been supplying more then 100k drones, from donations! Oleksandr Syrskyih as a huge problem with that, it's a power war! He is old school and protects Sodol, one of them whom sent thousands to die, out of spite for the western ways, young people whom know better. Higher ups want to remain in control, no matter what! He does a few good moves, he does sort of learn, a bit, yet doesn't trust in deep changes. The soldiers thank Sternenko because they know they won't get what they need from the Army. Some, too few divisions organize a parallel system. The issues are too great. Focus your support on the good and performant initiatives, not the wasteful ones. Deeply look inside or you'll never understand.
This innovation, civil society and military co'operation structure is important and nato-countries should start learning that from Ukraine and at the same time they can help ukraine with that skill. Learn the wheeling, dealing of diy military stuff, how to make stuff work where to get spare parts etc. Hi tech is nice, but we need to learn what to do if for example some weapons become useless.
Very illuminating conversation. What he says about the still "sovietish" state of Ukraine's military up to 2019, plus Zelenskyy's truth-telling in the Lex Fridman interview about Western allies not supporting Ukraine after the 2014 invasion because they didn't give a f&ck, makes me wonder if the explanation for the (in retrospect) shocking inaction of the West was that Ukraine was a different place back then, and was led by a person of dubious integrity. I don't know much about Poroschenko, except that he is/was a chocolate magnate, but what the guest says makes it seem not impossible that the US, France, Germany didn't trust him to run a clean operation, and he certainly seems like no Zelenskyy. I could be totally off on this, but would be interested in opinions...
Politicians were not "naive" to take money for Brexit campaign from Russia. Nigel Farage actually worked for Russia Today and held regular meetings with the Russian ambassador. It was a conscious decision. Farage worked (works?) for Russia.
Why did Labour reverse the previous gov decision to prevent the construction of the CCP "super embassy" in London? What sort of public respectful process led to this CCP MSS and United Front super agency to be implemented in the UK? Come back yo me on this, I really want to know. All Asians in the UK would like to know ass well.
There is one thing - that you yourself, Jonathan, mentioned in an episode of a day or two ago, and that is: why don't NATO countries react when their airspace is invaded by Russian military jets? You reminded us that when Russian military jets invaded Turkey's airspace, they sent a warning that they would shoot, the warning was ignored and then they shot the jet down. Russia has not invaded Turkish airspace since. Surely this should be done in Europe, the Baltic and Scandinavian regions, whether in the sky, over land or in the sea? Are our leaders aware of the fact that our refusal to react is encouraging Putin to continue and increase his not-so-secret methods of warfare?
It is true that trade with other countries is a bonus and we are all better with it, however as the guest says countries do ho on without it. Also think of tne myriad ways sanctions can be evaded. I still agree with the sanctions but I was very doubtful of their effectiveness to deter putins objective. Sanctions may have had more effect on a democratic country but that's nit ruzzia. We continue to misunderstand putins motivation and therefore respond incorrectly. We, as many have said, place our own values on putin and ruzzia and then are shocked when they are flicked away as annoying insects. In a way it's the same with trump. Everyday the media tries to spin his rhetoric this way and that asking experts to decioher his words. We are in disbelief that he can evade the law and behave the way he does and still get elected. He doesn’t care about the law andnhe can't be shamed, he has no values and like putin his only thought is for himself - to be considered great.
Excellent interview. The discussion about % GDP spent on defense is irrelevant. The point is that Europe must assume it's own strategic defense. And spend whatever is necessary to that end.
Ah now it's clearer why the support from people around the world for the Ukranian military forces has made so much difference. I have been providing money for over 30 months. Canada, Greenland, Panama and Denmark are now targets for one country, the USA. I wonder if any of our allies will be there for us, each of us. The incoming president has deep similarities with the man in Moscow. Where are we, Canada, Denmark, Greenland, Panama going to turn for to get support? Ukraine NEED, deserves much better than they've been given. 🇨🇦🇩🇰🇬🇱🔱🇺🇦
Very good but it still doesn't cover the underlying problem of why the "west" limits support and why putin invaded Ukraine first. If putins initial invasion had been successful then would have gained 16 million eligble conscripts to force into the russian army to continue to take back the old soviet empire. The "west" believed Ukraine would fall quickly and probably still believes Ukraine will fall eventually and cannot allow the vast increase in potential russian invasion power. So by drip feeding weapons and ammunitions the "west" reduces available manpower on both sides, reduces availabe equipment and resources and therefore has a weaker force to fight when NATO countries like the Baltics are invaded russia AND Ukraine would be a force that would probably take the Baltics quite quickly. Fortunately putin is failing and the "west" should now increase the level of support and clearly let putin know that NATO troops will be heading for Ukraine. If putin is not stpped then WW3 is inevitable. Stop the war by taking out putins gang and ending russian strongman politics.
Excellent insight information about the reality of the world geopolitical situation, and how the mind numbed western countries need to wake-up, act fast or have a very rude awaking.
As much as I would love to see this, I think it's best to leave him alone to do his magic. He's now a full brigade commander. If his model proves scalable, then the idea is to replicate it across the entire force by spawning multiple Magyars. I know an officer in the new Unmanned Systems force who told me that their core is absolutely stellar people, but they are still having to deal with Soviet minded higher command and it's one of their main problems.
Great guest! I am a little surprised to hear that Zelenskyy did not believe Russia would invade, if that's correct it was a costly mistake. But even so, his courage and resourcefulness in recovering control of the situation mitigates his earlier stance (not that he would have gotten support in the no-nothing West beforehand).
A lot of people didn't think Putin would invade but if you listen to Zelensky's pre-invasion Munich address 'someone is lying ' he asked for weapons and sanctions. They were preparing but Putin believed they weren't prepared.
Is Glen Grant correct on Ukrainian drones? From what I gather Ukraine has a thriving industry in the latest drones and the Ukrainian military hierarchy is fully cognisant of their necessity and effectiveness. But I am sure he is correct in pointing out the disconnect between rhe official Ukrainian military and civilian volunteers. Ukraine certainly needs to adopt a more unified and coordinated approach in its defensive and offensive operations.
I want to add I’m not completely negative on sone of your observation and understand your confusion. I’m 1000% supportive of Ukraine, but I know details behind Greenland and Canadian comments that do have to do with Ukraine. They are about stopping Russia and China as well as Arctic trade for Europe and US. When you think Trump is a 🤡 he’s made a fool of you because he’s dealing with the issues. The longstanding treaty obligations and military installations which are massive in Canada and Greenland go back to the 50s. They’re still maintained and operated. They’re part of NORAD.
Perun gave a great exposé about the state and struggles of Canadian military, presence in the arctic and... many things he covered "unintentionally", but I don't think he unintentional anything much! The comments are also precious, many aspects of Canadian military life are revealed, unfiltered, a mine of information. There is an aspect never discussed, like the Avro, how Canada is bound by "silent" treaties to remain weak, how parts of the army were destroyed because the US felt threatened... tech wars, inventors assassinated, engineering projects destroyed, how the CIA is everywhere, monitoring, often in partnership but the US is an imperial force that isn't always benevolent, even rarely is. Trump is aware of this and now, I feel he wants to collect the fruits of such a "submissive" appeasement that lasted 60+ years. There is a thing, he should also compute, in his scammer, bankrupt noddle of a brain: the resolve is still there and the brains never dies, the politeness is there, yes, but when you poke Canadians... you better be ready for the storm! The Nazis learned this the hard way, and some others I'm not at liberty to discuss. And we supply a lot of the east coast energy as well! He wants to make himself great, for once in his sorry excuse of a life, but I think failure is a feature in this small boy; hence the "distractions". Not many Canadians are "distracted", and most are now quite upset...
Perhpas, it would be very helpful to have Glen Grant debate a Ukrainian military representative on the supply problems issue. Can we really afford to let this situation slide if his arguments are even only just mostly correct? For the viewer with limited funds it begs the question of whether to support private fund raising groups versus government entities such as United 24.
The interviewee misspoke because he is used to speaking with Military Commanders. The Ukrainian NCO Corps no longer has such a Soviet mindset. Advisors from the US/UK/Canada trained up every Unit NCO Corps from 2018 to January 2022. They also eliminated hazing of recruits, another Soviet legacy, still used in Russia. This has remade the Ukrainian NCO Corps into a NATO quality component in a hybrid Ukrainian Military. Defensive Operations are NOT equal to Offensive Operations. On Defense, NCOs can lead Squads (5-11 troops) and Platoons 12-33 troops) in local Defensive Operations. It’s only when being enveloped, or ordering a withdrawal, or calling for fire which requires Officer Corps input. Offensive Operations mandate Officer Corps planning and execution management. Of course, Staff NCOs are key participants. Nevertheless, without Officer Corps leadership at Battalion, Brigade, Division, and sometimes Corps levels, Enemy Commanders have enough time to reposition Reserves to thwart NCO led Platoon and Squad Level attacks. This is part of the reason GEN Zaluzhny’s 8 Offensive Operations in 2023 failed. And yes, GEN Zaluzhny has a 100% Soviet mindset. GEN Syrskyi participated in many NATO training exercises as a Ukrainian Military Representative. He has 2 problems using NATO schemes of maneuver. 1ST, the Ukrainian Military still employs Soviet Unit Organization. This Unit Organization limits at each level of Command, that Commander’s ability to maneuver to achieve Objectives without calling higher Command for help. 2ND, there are only about 18 Brigade Commanders of NATO quality. There are ZERO Division and Corps Commanders unless GEN Syrskyi and/or his Staff personally leads an Offensive Operation. NO NATO Military has such a deficit in leadership at the Division and Corps Levels. GEN Syrskyi tried to fix this issue by creating new Brigades in NATO countries using experienced members of existing Brigades. To this leadership nucleus, about 50% of the Brigade would have new recruits. My estimation was this process would take about 8 months. Unfortunately, experienced Brigades used this opportunity to push out their weakest experienced soldiers. The new recruits were not given Basic Training inside Ukraine nor at a training site in the Baltics or UK. This led to a fiasco in France. GEN Syrskyi’s concept was correct. However, one of his personal Staff had to oversee the process. The experienced troops should have been pulled from promotion lists without local Unit input. New recruits should have been through Basic and AIT training as Infantry prior to being sent to France. All troops should have been restricted to post during training. This would have created a NATO Unit Organized, NATO scheme of maneuver Brigade. Ukrainians need 4 Brigades and 1 Regiment Artillery to create a Division capable of Offensive Operations. While the Brigade is being trained, a Ukrainian Division Commander and Staff need training on battle planning including war gaming, battle execution, and critical analysis called an AAR (After Action Review). This is on done on simulators, with real map boards, using a TOC environment, versus a trained OPFOR. The Staff e should be able to complete 2 missions per month, until everyone in the Division knows their tasks and what the Commander wants or should want.
Stephen you are totally right about NCOs except that many have been given the rank - quite rightly based upon battle experience but with no underpinning NCO training and skills. You are wrong about the officer class. They have been trained as NCOs and followers and many were educated in Universities and have had little practical experience before command. I know this for a fact as my assistant was one of those and I have been and looked. These people have no idea at all of maneuver warfare either in doctrine or practice. Finally the idea that brigades were somehow seeded by experienced people is a joke. Most of those with experience were not put into leadership positions nor given time and opportunity to make things work. And the fundamental skills sets required for drones, EW, artillery, mortars, communications etc were either half done or even absent from the mix.
@ I guess to did not read my post. The NCOs and NCO Corps training program was set up by the US/UK/Canada, but continued as a Ukrainian program. Some Units like 3RD Brigade Infantry (SPEC/Azov), continued this training within their Units. As far as the published record shows, the Ukrainian Officer Corps had no NATO quality training. Some Lieutenants may have gotten training from their NCOs. Other Lieutenants may have been college educated Sergeants who were promoted to Officer. Nevertheless, this is NOT Officer training to NATO standards. NATO Officers training starts at the Company Command Level. But Companies do not battle plan in NATO. Battalions are the 1ST Staff Level with trained and/or dedicated Officers in Tactics, Military Intelligence, and Logistics. Battalions are the Command Level with Specialty subordinate Units like Artillery, Scouts, Maintenance Support, Medics, and Food Services. Every higher Command has these areas plus additional Specialty Units. Ukrainians are Unit Organized using legacy Soviet models with NATO weapons systems replacing Soviet systems. This Soviet Unit Organization reduces the combat effectiveness of the NATO equipment. Additionally, Ukrainians rarely use NATO manuals for executing Combined Arms Combat. For example, in 2023 Offensive Operations in Zaporizhzhia Oblast to breach Surovikin Lines, was obscuration and suppressive fires used? No. Were MICLICs used to breach minefields? No. Ukrainians used MICLICs to clear entrenched troops in tree rows. The US expected Ukrainians to use 3 Axis of Advance towards 1 Objective behind the Surovikin Lines. This would have concentrated fires and obscuration creating a combat multiplier. Instead, GEN Zaluzhny diluted his combat power across 8 separate Offenses.
Batterfield in Ukraine seems to be a great combat drone lab. It also has some characteristics of guerilla warfare (civilians providing all kinds of support).
Mr. Grant's comments about the Ukrainian Military being heavily influenced by a Hierarchical Soviet Military Mindset seem a bit over-the-top ... all of the other reporting I've seen says that the Ukrainian Military has been excelling in Distributed Leadership and Initiative ... Regardless, I liked Mr. Grant's idea of a "Strata of Oligarchs" all across the world. We can see the undermining of Democracy in the United States with High Tech CEOs buying elections and favor. Their allegiance is to their own wealth rather than any Nation State ...
@@PandemoniumMeltDown thanks. But I have to say, I'm one of the most informed people I know. I study this and other news topics on an on-going basis. If Mr. Grant's comments are indeed close to the way things actually are, then we have an Information Communication Problem. I spend something on the order of three hours / day doing nothing but consuming news from a wide variety of sources. That probably puts me in the 99.999% most informed category and the vast majority of people can't afford to spend the amount of time I'm spending consuming news sources. So Mr. Grant and others need to turn up the heat on their information.
Distributed leadership is a great idea to try and put into western concepts and words for actually a lack of leadership or in many cases crap orders that have to be worked around.
I wish Thier was a base like we have in america were they get a draft notice and you go there and do a 3 month boot camp and than specialist training and Classes and training for sgts and captains and so
As a Canadian, I wish all children were trained at first aid and, eventually CPR and was maintained, every year. This would force empathy and a deep understanding of the value of life, of how to prevent injuries. I think crime would fall down to near zero. Former communist colonies have a strong remnant of deep apathy and selfishness, valuing a very small "circle" to the detriment of what's "outside". They don't yield to emergency vehicles gladly, don't offer their public transportation seat to people in need (elderly, pregnant, wounded...), they aren't generous, sometimes even quite cruel, have a propensity to self-victimize and not, I mean not identify with their neighbor's struggles, like a competition for the last piece of bread on the shelves, a starvation genetic memory from a violent past forced upon them for decades... Some Polish people have inherited hatred of Ukrainians from a past long gone, and cannot identify with the common place that, actually, unite them like blood brothers. Propaganda plays a huge part, as it fuels old wounds... there is lots of work to be done! We're all in this together, keep your stick on the ice! (Red Green quote) When you learn to save lives, your perspective of many things changes. Instead, nowadays, video games are teaching to kill without consequences. Some are indoctrinated to exceptionalism, feeling invulnerable, dominating all "others", believing in their "higher purpose and entitlement". I thought myself to stitch a human like a surgeon (do you know the cost of a single Ethicon Monocryl, needle and suture thread kit, just one?), have been trained at combat first aid and maintained these skills for decades. Not many share my respect for life. Too many take everything for granted. Someone will do, someone will save... god in the sky, thousand virgin upon sacrifice... bull crap! Magical thinking isn't my thing. Killing is also a useful skill; you can now call me a paradox... meh. Discipline and ethics are key, in life.
i pasted this comment cause i think it is important for folks to know hello the pilot who bombed the drama theater said he had been there before the invasion he recognized the place reported by a Russian war correspondent blond woman on you tube as a refuge for old folk women and all their children painted children in huge letters in front parking area so pilots wouldn't bomb it the pilot bragged about dropping a massive bomb on it killing and burying alive hundreds of civilian's that all are still buried and capped over with concrete to hide the war crime the pilot bragged about his deed on social media afterwards i watched it all on you tube i want Ukraine to liberate Mariupol so the victims may be exhumed and given a proper burials God help Ukraine in Jesus name Amen
To add a bit more context to the discussion of the Russian mentality: it is not just Soviet legacy, but the history of Russians over several centuries - they had slavery till the 1860s, and although it was then abolished, the slave mentality lives on, is passed across generations and is still alive now.
Ukrainian top general Born in Russia Parents in Russia First wife and son in Russia Fought for Russia 🧐 Since he started 🤔 things have got worse Leader of Ukraine army 🪖 is Russian 😮😮😮
excellent views particularly the mindset of Eastern European, I would also say similar to some South East Asian militates based on my experience. I do not necessarily agree that Brexit was due to Russian funds...(unless there are are there facts to back this up or is it just a personal opinion)
I, along with many supporters of Ukraine, donated to drone projects that significantly impact battle lines. It's frustrating that few in the West are aware of this. Imagine the difference if more people acted independently of their governments! I believe the media's lack of proper reporting and the apathy of everyday people play a big role in this ignorance.
Maybe the current UK Govt should not have increased Civil Servant pay and subsequent ongoing pension costs but put that increase for Government borrowing into the Defence budget? Which is better for the the long term UK security increase... Civil Servant pay and pension increase or better UK defense budget?
Wish more discussion was made of this “boss” culture over there. Trying to explain it to people. I tell them to imagine a country run and operated by a bunch of middle level. Store managers who bully and torment their workers.
What do you mean? Are you also being genocided by an imperialist kleptocratic fascist autocrat totalitarian regime? Would you like to talk about it? Would you like a bowl of steaming hot Vatnik Soup to go with your BRICK rainbow and butterflies? Are you in South Africa and are struggling to post on RUclips between two power cuts because all the wires were stolen? Are you in China and are using a VPN, even if it's a second degree terrorist act punishable by 20 years in "prison" (more like being recycled for parts)... Do you need help escaping a troll bots forced slave labor farm, under duress in South-East Asia after having been kidnapped? Do you think people only look at one thing exclusively, disregarding all other things? Can you brush your teeth and breathe at the same time? Do you have political agency and civic rights?
I thought the Ukrainians had been very innovative in using drones. Well so the news reports tell us. Then why is there a lack enthusiasm from the MSM to report Ukraine in contrast to Israel for example? There seems to be a disconnection somewhere.
Thank you, Jonathan and Glen.
Glory to Ukraine.
From Indonesia.
This is the conversation that so many people need to see. The changing warfare is so important to realize, this is NEWS!
I need to go back to my Kyiv Independence article you wrote on this topic. Military arrogance is so bad. Working together is a problem with the way they are thinking.
Thank you Mr G Grant and Johnathan❤️👍
We need to get people’s attention, this is not loud enough!!!
Brilliant guest. His assessments and critiques of Ukraine are very useful. For an old guy (I'm old myself), he is certainly on top of things.
Great stream , Jonathan, Thank you… 👏👏🤘🤘👍👍🫶🙏🫡🇺🇦🐈⬛
Absolutely spot on gentlemen. From my eyes and ear on the ground since 2014. There was a huge gap between Veterans and the civilian attitude towards the war Donbas. My friends were just getting out and waiting to go back to work. And good work they do! Glory to the heroes and glory to 🇺🇦!
👍👍👍🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
Nailed it. This guest is speaking my mind.
I thought the same for much of the dialogue.
GLEN- VERY INFORMED AND GOOD ALWAYS LISTENING TO HIM.
Very interesting listening to Glen Grants knowledge
Sobering, unvarnished conversations like these have led me as a teacher to add a segment on building resilience in times of geopolitical upheaval.
Students get 4 short case studies on Ukrainian firms' horizontal expansion (easy to find, there's one on BetterMe, Monobank, BraBraBra and McPaw for example).
They analyse how these companies are helping their country in innovative ways.
Then they design their own proposals for what corporations in their country can do if and when they experience unrest.
Too many educators in the West avoid the topic altogether.
That needs to stop yesterday.
When young people see there are things that they can do to make a meaningful difference, they start to think creatively in a positive way.
We need to get our collective heads out of the sand in the EU and help the next generation develop innovative thinking habits that may help save their lives very soon.
A breath of fresh air - reading a post with no grammatical nor punctuational errors. Tnx.
Brilliant. Glen, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was missing this aspect for a long time!!
This is so important. I've seen this ingrained cultural reality myself. It's bewildering if you're not used to it. Especially its appalling stubborness, while people doing it will actually admit how dysfunctional it is. And it's the substrate on which everything else may or may not stand, may or may not hold, may or may not function, may or may not spread any positives it arrives at, etc., etc. A proper culture makes so much difference; can change the world.
I’m glad you had this guest to help me understand the complexities and difficulties within the Ukrainian military and between NATO.
Huge gratitude to both of you , gentlemen! Totally agree with Mr Glenn Grant... 🇺🇦👏❤️❤️❤️
Fascinating insights. Great guest!
This was really interesting. Thank you
Thank you, Jonathan and Glen Grant, for this fascinating conversation. Looking forward to your next one.
🇺🇦 Перемоги та миру всім українцям! 🇺🇦
Was going to swear but thought better of it. Massive wake up call !!!! This is incredibly enlightening . A huge Thank-you to the speaker… apologies for not remembering his name.
Great interview, thank you
Excellent, as always!! Thank you Johnathan!!! Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦!!!
Thank you, Johnathon and Glen
Great guest!
Glen Grant, my favorite. Stay strong, old timer!
It's shocking how accurate he can be, most people online don't have 10% of Glen's understanding of today's information. Sometimes I feel, you, Jonathan, listen to him with no military training, and don't get more then 20% of the cues he gives you. Furthermore, he is deeply connected where you don't listen... men on the terrain, he knows, you don't. Ukraine, China... you need new sources, I have them, many have them, you're just missing out.
if so, then tell us who your sources are! We all are all ears about new info! I'm a yank myself.
@@18_rabbit Most people don't have time, the inclination, patience nor interest to learn a foreign language. Sources are all about listening, but to listen you have to understand. Now, if you don't understand, you nave to find people you can trust, people whom understand, people whom comes from the culture you're trying to get a glimpse of, from the inside... which otherwise remains, like in China's case, hermetically closed.
Being a "yank" you know Men In Black: Tabloids. The internal internet, "netizens" give you the unfiltered, raw insanity the gov allows and promotes. From outside, one can only see and "hear" the masquerade, whereas from inside it's the most gory and pathological thing you've ever seen. Then again, listening to the "fire hose" of gov promoted venting, which projects a "creativity" that the censors decided suits the gov's agenda, one knows feelings, and very little information per se.
For information, one must find expats. And here's the kicker, expats that are unplugged from the propaganda; this is most hard to find and takes years. Former Chinese, the ones whom really get out trust very little, they are constantly under attack and must be protected, like a state secret.
So no, I won't give sources, you'll have to find them and charm them, and get to know them, and get in their inner circle and gain access to the information they have for yourself, if they want you to.
Trust is a very rare currency, nowadays, really running in short supply. The CCP reach is expanding, and our governments are allowing it to happen, especially in the Labour UK, where they reversed the decision to prevent the CCP from constructing the "Super Embassy", which will serve as an operative hub for the CCP's United Front and the MSS. The US does a little bit more, in certain ways.
I'm not a "yank", I'm not even English; but I can point you to a public new "yank", from SA, like Elon, who was in China for 13 plus years Winston Sterzel (SerpentZA). He collected tons of information and communicated most of them, even made a documentary. He pointed to another (a great many other) public source(s), expats whom got bored of the language barrier and general ignorance, and decided they were going to translate the "fire hose" of state sponsored Weibo, the CCP policies, news articles, the only form of Twitter allowed in China, heavily monitored and censored. You'll might have to learn some of the codes , usually numeric, they use to communicate things they cannot say. (5201314 = I love you forever, aka the most common Chinese password! and possibly the most dialed phone number, just to see who's at the end of this line!)
These expats have a website called The Great Translation Movement.
Note by Cai Xia: "This translation not only exposes the CCP's totalitarian ideology that poisons the Chinese people, ...it also reminds global governments and people to be wary of the infiltration and poisoning of the CCP's external propaganda, false information, false narratives, and misleading public opinion space."
The CCP really counts on the language barrier, they really feel like "code talkers".
The Uyghurs, Tibetans, Vietnamese, Malay speaking people... I can speak and cook more cultures than you can shake a stick at, and can't learn enough during my life time, which saddens me... meh. WIP, always!
Learn some native American dialects as well, it will allow you to connect with great people! Navajo people, Cree people... fantastic people!
But other than that, China Insights will give you the tabloids like, the many floods during the night months ago; the EVs on fire and self-driving into... places; the social pathologies I shan't ever discuss here, the manifestations; the recent military coup; the purges; mass organ harvesting and institutes the foreigners go to to pay to get the implants the same day!... all(ish, some do now, a bit) unreported "features", the United Front does a great job at controlling our medias and our own freedom of expression against their freedom to persecute and control.
It's all out there. Except for the precious direct lines; these are protected, and I'll die before compromising these, which are life itself, friendship, family. You have to gain the feeling of these people, put yourself in their shoes, remove your local "yank" glasses and become one with them, with empathy and no judgement, you will taste their pain, their fears, their joys, understand everything from their point of view, not only what is reported.
Ukraine, there are thousands of channels, all opened and waiting for you to listen. A few days ago, a guy from a drone team said things I had never heard before, how he was in business during Maidan, how he thought they were troublemakers in need of attention, how it took him a long time to recognize what was happening... he is now... doing the Rusoriz waltz with khuylo's orcs.
The Russians are talking, the ethnic minorities inside Russia are talking, and outside... the Georgians, Azerbaijanis, Moldavian... no one listens, I do. I go on sites with 1, 4, 20 views! TaiwanPlus News, and Docs, Taiwan Talks, is all great news, better than anything I know; no one goes there! If you ever want to understand how professionals deal with 65 years of Chinese aggression... They are consumed masters and will even give you "yank" news you don't have access to, heck to their whole region, with great details! Taiwan is a fantastic country!
It takes time to collect sources. It takes serious work to learn languages. I don't fork around when I militarily learn, collect and document, knowledge, information... And when I hear someone stating bull, especially Jonathan, who I love, he has the best guests and very good insights, but he can be stubborn and I'll keep telling him, like a broken record, the very few, 2, maybe three now, times he resists the real stuff he needs to unlock the evasive mystery, the key to open what he needs. But I can't give access to my head, it's restricted and classified.
Same with aboriginals, Japan, all the places that don't radiate a constant flow of data, where you have to politely ask and gain trust to enter...
Interest, patience, respect. Communication is not due, one isn't entitled to it, in certain places.... Good luck, I'm not writing this one again!
This was something new regarding the state of the UA military. Solid work as usual.
Thank Johnathan for the update & another great Stream .. 💙💛💙
Over 40 and under 50, absolutely no hint of a soviet mindset here. Greetings from Estonia.
It is just the blame game kicking off
Another banger of a interview/guest! Great work!
Thx folks
Glen Grant . You amaze me. I eish every government snd politician involved in this conflict followed you. Thankyou
Another absolutely brilliant episode! How incredibly insightful…
I like this channel like Chatham House. How it slowly and philosophically discusses the seriousness, and mired in the deep thought. I know you will get to the answer one day. Been watching it since about 2010.
WOW. I just read this man’s piece in Kyiv Post from 2018. WOW. He basically laid out how they needed to shape up their game.. in very good detail. It’s a very long, detailed..systemic analysis with recommendations. OUTSTANDING WORK. I highly recommend you read it. And Poroshenko put it in the trash. WOW…..what a damn shame. He told them how to shape up for a war. IT WAS IGNORED. Shameful.
Corruption is a powerful thing.
The vast problems within the Ukrainian army that this guest outlines make what Ukraine has achieved even more inpressive than what I thought. Somehow it is managed to put up a strong defence given the numerical disadvantage it is facing. It also highlights what must be an even greater problem that exists within the ruzzian army. Of course this mindset is very well reported.
President Zelenskyy said today that in order to motivate people to fight they must see some success and the ability to protect the skies. More air defence is needed. Western countries call for conscripting children but refuse to close the skies giving people no incentive as their understandable fear is a deterrent.
No western country has ever called for "conscripting children"
Some have asked them to lower the age, while the US and a few others asked them to lower to as low as 18 years old...
There is no country in the world that considers 18 year olds as children.
Thank you for another great discussion. Slava Ukraini!
best analyst so far.
Thanks so much for creating and sharing this informative interview. Great job. Keep it up.
Heroyam Slava. 💙💛 🇺🇦
Super interesting stuff, thank you very much.
Excellent !! Good old fashioned British no nonsense clarity of argument
Absolutely brilliant interview JF, so informative 👏
What a great topic, this will be something I'm sure.
Great insights, lots of unpleasant truths, yet hope! Bravo! 🙏👍🙏
Really interesting. Many thanks.
This is an extremely important, vital conversation to have! It's horrific that Ukraine, and the West, haven't yet wised up and figured out how to use their resources and man-power properly. The waste of economical and human resources is maddening to think of! It's criminal neglect at best.
Great interview Glen.
We don't just need more voices of reason like this gentleman, but more ears of reason
Spot on!
people need to take seriously and react to the fact that russians are slowly, but steadily improving their own drone warfare technology.
Spot on, glen. Lets meet for a coffee when youre back in town.
The intent of sanctions is not regime change, but punishment. Regime is merely a hope, wishing on a star. But, arguable, so is punishment.
It's neither. Sanctions are there to make it harder for russia to wage war.
@@ginniemess Right. How's that going? I was responding to Grant's opening statement.
The free world is at war
Retired Lt. Col. Glen Grant gives a vivid description of the issues and dysfunction within Ukraine's military command. What he describes are the extreme growing pains that a new Democratic Nation State emerging out of being colonized for more than 300 years undergoes. When Ukraine seceded from the USSR in December of 1991, many UA commentators and community leaders warned that Ukraine's progression to a free and democratic State will take at least 10 generation to establish. While under Russia's control in the USSR, Ukraine had almost no export market. All goods produced in Ukraine were exported by Russia. Ninety-nine percent of Ukraine's production was under the control of Russian Colonists appointed by Moscow. Ukrainians had scant governing experience. As soon as Ukraine proclaimed its independence, the financial vultures from the US and Europe flooded Ukraine. Ukrainian's barely had time to catch their breath, when the Rand Corporation made itself an integral part of Ukraine's government, as it undertook to privatize all the Russian controlled State enterprises. During the past 30 years Ukrainians had to survive one economic shock wave after another. I worked in Ukraine in 1991 and part of 1992 and it was heartbreaking for me to witness how the successfully Russia's terrorism squelched the spirit of Ukrainian youth and teens. When I proposed to them several entrepreneurial undertakings, it quickly became evident that my proposal was a foreign and unimaginable concept to them. Under Soviet rule, in 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster devasted Ukraine. It was only with government permission that people living in heavily irradiated areas could relocate per government assignment to a new location. Even before the Chernobyl Disaster, access to housing was strictly controlled by the Kremlin. Ukrainians were accustomed to being denied free agency by the Kremlin throughout their lives. Most Ukrainians are fully aware of how deeply embedded Kremlin Colonists remain in Ukraine. Until Ukrainians experience that more of their lives are in their hands, they remain governed by a deeply ingrained unconscious and subconscious fear of potential Russian colonists in their midst who could disbar them of their life.
Good comment thank you.
Similar situation here in the baltics, early 90s. The Baltic people have broken the bonds, mental and physical, from Russia these past 30 years. Ukraine needs the support to do this as well.
allways nice to see bright people
Hi Johnathan and Glen,
Regarding the notion of transforming institutions/organizations... My 40+ years of experience in the areas of continuous improvement, operational excellence, reengineering and transformation have provided me with a deep and systemic/holistic understanding of the combinations of mechanisms-of-action and forces-at-play that influence people's patterns of thinking and behaving in general and when confronted with the need to change in particular. So, when it comes to making changes for the better, one of the biggest impediments to making effective and sustainable change is NOT tradition, but rather the persistent of self-interest over collective interest. And if there's anything that drives home the importance of COLLECTIVE INTEREST over self-interest, it's fighting a war.
On that note, let me begin with a general observation - based on decades of career experience - that not delivering "bad news" or "new ideas" to a superior is NOT just endemic to the former soviet style of interaction between commanders and their subordinates, but rather, this is a phenomenon that is also rampant throughout corporate American and even in American governmental adn military circles - at ALL LEVELS. One of the best examples I can think of in the US military is the story of John Boyd and his fellow acolytes (aka "The Fighter Mafia") who spent years - if not decades - fighting against the entrenched "bomber mentality" that was prevalent among top-ranking Air Force generals working in the Pentagon throughout the 1970's and 1980's. To make a long (and well documented) story short, those individuals who were members of the Fighter Mafia ended up paying a high price in both their personal and professional lives to bring about a PARADIGM SHIFT that allowed for the design and development of a new generation of high-performance fighter/attack aircraft such as the F-16, F-15, [F/A-18 indirectly], and A-10.
Another outstanding example of an entrenched military mind-set that bears noting is that which existed (and may still exist to some extent) in the US Navy. Up until the late 1990's the practice of rigid hierarchical command and control structures were the foundation upon which the Navy's tradition was built upon. It wasn't until a set of unique circumstances provide the opportunity for the commander of a nuclear-powered attack submarine (named the USS Sante Fe) to approach the Navy's traditional command and control structure in a totally "out-of-the-box" transformational manner. The story of how Capt. L. David Marquet (along with all the crew members of the USS Sante Fe) was able to transform the performance of the submarine - within a very short time period (six months for first demonstrable results) - such that within a year the Sante Fe became the BEST PERFORMING SUB in the NUCLEAR NAVY... not just for that evaluation cycle, but the best performing ship in the entire history of the NUCLEAR NAVY. IF interested, Marquest wrote a book entitled "TURN THE SHIP AROUND: A True Story of Turning FOLLOWERS Into LEADERS" that details the transformation process. Also, a very worthwhile 10-minute, animated, RUclips video that explains the transformation mechanism of action is available at the following URL...
ruclips.net/video/OqmdLcyES_Q/видео.html
Let's hope that something similar in its transformation potential to the Fighter Mafia endeavor and Marquet's LEADER-LEADER modus operandi will take place within both Ukraine's military and governmental structures... SLAVA UKRAINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for an interesting read. In a couple of years, do you think military and industry leaders of Ukraine will shape thinking in the West?
@SebastianLarsen The war in Ukrain is already changing the thinking of military leaders not just in the West but throughout the entire world. From an industrial perspective, there are classic examples for how to conduct the start-up and scale-up of manufacturing operations being put to use in Ukraine that bear paying attention to. They are not necessarily novel to the world but reenforce concepts and approaches that have proven highly effective in the past. Whether or not Western industrial leaders will be able to recognize the merits of these approaches and begin to think and behave beyond the pervasive and persistent short-termism that tends to dominate thinking and behaving patterns in the business realm remains to be seen... I certainly hope Ukraine will become a beacon of higher-order thinking and behaving that others can and will recognize as such and choose to emulate for all the right reasons.
Thnx, guys! Very relevant & scary...
I am Ukrainian. What the guest says is true. Even our own military cannot catch up quick enough with innovation that's happenning founded from bottom up. People invent new ways to fight using money collected from friends and relatives and only then it is being recognized and scaled while the official documents have no mention of said things because they did not exist before.
Interesting. Thanks
Glen, thank you. A breath of fresh air, I feel like I cold actually breathe listening to this interview. Most interviews re: Ukraine I always listen with bated breath as people are morons and have no clue. But Glen knows. Thank you
As Russia falters under mounting military and economic strain, the strategic landscape is shifting. The perceived risks of significant Russian retaliation, including nuclear threats, grow increasingly hollow in the face of their internal crises. Now is the moment for NATO and the EU to act boldly. Ukraine’s strength underscores the urgency of integrating it into both alliances-despite ongoing conflict. Swift membership would not only fortify Eastern Europe against future aggression but also send a powerful message about defending democratic values without hesitation. Your voice could play a pivotal role in advancing this narrative. By highlighting the strategic necessity of rapid integration, you can help shape the discussion Ukraine needs to secure its rightful place in Europe’s future.
100 %
I doubt Olaf Scolz has ever done anything rapidly in his entire life.
The most heartening common sense commentary I have so far heard.
This interview is sobering and depressing. The dead hand of Communism is harder to remove than one would think It is amazing that Ukraine is doing as well militarily as it is.
Sternenko has been supplying more then 100k drones, from donations! Oleksandr Syrskyih as a huge problem with that, it's a power war! He is old school and protects Sodol, one of them whom sent thousands to die, out of spite for the western ways, young people whom know better. Higher ups want to remain in control, no matter what! He does a few good moves, he does sort of learn, a bit, yet doesn't trust in deep changes. The soldiers thank Sternenko because they know they won't get what they need from the Army. Some, too few divisions organize a parallel system. The issues are too great. Focus your support on the good and performant initiatives, not the wasteful ones. Deeply look inside or you'll never understand.
This innovation, civil society and military co'operation structure is important and nato-countries should start learning that from Ukraine and at the same time they can help ukraine with that skill. Learn the wheeling, dealing of diy military stuff, how to make stuff work where to get spare parts etc. Hi tech is nice, but we need to learn what to do if for example some weapons become useless.
Very illuminating conversation. What he says about the still "sovietish" state of Ukraine's military up to 2019, plus Zelenskyy's truth-telling in the Lex Fridman interview about Western allies not supporting Ukraine after the 2014 invasion because they didn't give a f&ck, makes me wonder if the explanation for the (in retrospect) shocking inaction of the West was that Ukraine was a different place back then, and was led by a person of dubious integrity. I don't know much about Poroschenko, except that he is/was a chocolate magnate, but what the guest says makes it seem not impossible that the US, France, Germany didn't trust him to run a clean operation, and he certainly seems like no Zelenskyy. I could be totally off on this, but would be interested in opinions...
Politicians were not "naive" to take money for Brexit campaign from Russia. Nigel Farage actually worked for Russia Today and held regular meetings with the Russian ambassador. It was a conscious decision. Farage worked (works?) for Russia.
Why did Labour reverse the previous gov decision to prevent the construction of the CCP "super embassy" in London? What sort of public respectful process led to this CCP MSS and United Front super agency to be implemented in the UK? Come back yo me on this, I really want to know. All Asians in the UK would like to know ass well.
There is one thing - that you yourself, Jonathan, mentioned in an episode of a day or two ago, and that is: why don't NATO countries react when their airspace is invaded by Russian military jets? You reminded us that when Russian military jets invaded Turkey's airspace, they sent a warning that they would shoot, the warning was ignored and then they shot the jet down. Russia has not invaded Turkish airspace since. Surely this should be done in Europe, the Baltic and Scandinavian regions, whether in the sky, over land or in the sea? Are our leaders aware of the fact that our refusal to react is encouraging Putin to continue and increase his not-so-secret methods of warfare?
It is true that trade with other countries is a bonus and we are all better with it, however as the guest says countries do ho on without it. Also think of tne myriad ways sanctions can be evaded. I still agree with the sanctions but I was very doubtful of their effectiveness to deter putins objective. Sanctions may have had more effect on a democratic country but that's nit ruzzia.
We continue to misunderstand putins motivation and therefore respond incorrectly. We, as many have said, place our own values on putin and ruzzia and then are shocked when they are flicked away as annoying insects.
In a way it's the same with trump. Everyday the media tries to spin his rhetoric this way and that asking experts to decioher his words. We are in disbelief that he can evade the law and behave the way he does and still get elected. He doesn’t care about the law andnhe can't be shamed, he has no values and like putin his only thought is for himself - to be considered great.
Hear the same thing about the military leadership in Ukraine from Denys Davydove, though not in this kind of detail. Excellent analysis, thank you.
Excellent interview. The discussion about % GDP spent on defense is irrelevant. The point is that Europe must assume it's own strategic defense. And spend whatever is necessary to that end.
Ah now it's clearer why the support from people around the world for the Ukranian military forces has made so much difference. I have been providing money for over 30 months.
Canada, Greenland, Panama and Denmark are now targets for one country, the USA. I wonder if any of our allies will be there for us, each of us.
The incoming president has deep similarities with the man in Moscow.
Where are we, Canada, Denmark, Greenland, Panama going to turn for to get support?
Ukraine NEED, deserves much better than they've been given.
🇨🇦🇩🇰🇬🇱🔱🇺🇦
Very good but it still doesn't cover the underlying problem of why the "west" limits support and why putin invaded Ukraine first.
If putins initial invasion had been successful then would have gained 16 million eligble conscripts to force into the russian army to continue to take back the old soviet empire.
The "west" believed Ukraine would fall quickly and probably still believes Ukraine will fall eventually and cannot allow the vast increase in potential russian invasion power.
So by drip feeding weapons and ammunitions the "west" reduces available manpower on both sides, reduces availabe equipment and resources and therefore has a weaker force to fight when NATO countries like the Baltics are invaded
russia AND Ukraine would be a force that would probably take the Baltics quite quickly. Fortunately putin is failing and the "west" should now increase the level of support and clearly let putin know that NATO troops will be heading for Ukraine.
If putin is not stpped then WW3 is inevitable. Stop the war by taking out putins gang and ending russian strongman politics.
Excellent insight information about the reality of the world geopolitical situation, and how the mind numbed western countries need to wake-up, act fast or have a very rude awaking.
Maybe Ukraine should make Magyar the head of the armed forces?
As much as I would love to see this, I think it's best to leave him alone to do his magic. He's now a full brigade commander. If his model proves scalable, then the idea is to replicate it across the entire force by spawning multiple Magyars.
I know an officer in the new Unmanned Systems force who told me that their core is absolutely stellar people, but they are still having to deal with Soviet minded higher command and it's one of their main problems.
@@PeterA650
Great guest! I am a little surprised to hear that Zelenskyy did not believe Russia would invade, if that's correct it was a costly mistake. But even so, his courage and resourcefulness in recovering control of the situation mitigates his earlier stance (not that he would have gotten support in the no-nothing West beforehand).
A lot of people didn't think Putin would invade but if you listen to Zelensky's pre-invasion Munich address 'someone is lying ' he asked for weapons and sanctions. They were preparing but Putin believed they weren't prepared.
Is Glen Grant correct on Ukrainian drones? From what I gather Ukraine has a thriving industry in the latest drones and the Ukrainian military hierarchy is fully cognisant of their necessity and effectiveness. But I am sure he is correct in pointing out the disconnect between rhe official Ukrainian military and civilian volunteers. Ukraine certainly needs to adopt a more unified and coordinated approach in its defensive and offensive operations.
I want to add I’m not completely negative on sone of your observation and understand your confusion. I’m 1000% supportive of Ukraine, but I know details behind Greenland and Canadian comments that do have to do with Ukraine. They are about stopping Russia and China as well as Arctic trade for Europe and US.
When you think Trump is a 🤡 he’s made a fool of you because he’s dealing with the issues. The longstanding treaty obligations and military installations which are massive in Canada and Greenland go back to the 50s. They’re still maintained and operated. They’re part of NORAD.
Perun gave a great exposé about the state and struggles of Canadian military, presence in the arctic and... many things he covered "unintentionally", but I don't think he unintentional anything much! The comments are also precious, many aspects of Canadian military life are revealed, unfiltered, a mine of information. There is an aspect never discussed, like the Avro, how Canada is bound by "silent" treaties to remain weak, how parts of the army were destroyed because the US felt threatened... tech wars, inventors assassinated, engineering projects destroyed, how the CIA is everywhere, monitoring, often in partnership but the US is an imperial force that isn't always benevolent, even rarely is.
Trump is aware of this and now, I feel he wants to collect the fruits of such a "submissive" appeasement that lasted 60+ years.
There is a thing, he should also compute, in his scammer, bankrupt noddle of a brain: the resolve is still there and the brains never dies, the politeness is there, yes, but when you poke Canadians... you better be ready for the storm! The Nazis learned this the hard way, and some others I'm not at liberty to discuss. And we supply a lot of the east coast energy as well! He wants to make himself great, for once in his sorry excuse of a life, but I think failure is a feature in this small boy; hence the "distractions". Not many Canadians are "distracted", and most are now quite upset...
Two brits speaking about the "Soviet mindset" - what a comedy.
Perhpas, it would be very helpful to have Glen Grant debate a Ukrainian military representative on the supply problems issue.
Can we really afford to let this situation slide if his arguments are even only just mostly correct?
For the viewer with limited funds it begs the question of whether to support private fund raising groups versus government entities such as United 24.
The interviewee misspoke because he is used to speaking with Military Commanders. The Ukrainian NCO Corps no longer has such a Soviet mindset. Advisors from the US/UK/Canada trained up every Unit NCO Corps from 2018 to January 2022. They also eliminated hazing of recruits, another Soviet legacy, still used in Russia. This has remade the Ukrainian NCO Corps into a NATO quality component in a hybrid Ukrainian Military.
Defensive Operations are NOT equal to Offensive Operations. On Defense, NCOs can lead Squads (5-11 troops) and Platoons 12-33 troops) in local Defensive Operations. It’s only when being enveloped, or ordering a withdrawal, or calling for fire which requires Officer Corps input.
Offensive Operations mandate Officer Corps planning and execution management. Of course, Staff NCOs are key participants. Nevertheless, without Officer Corps leadership at Battalion, Brigade, Division, and sometimes Corps levels, Enemy Commanders have enough time to reposition Reserves to thwart NCO led Platoon and Squad Level attacks. This is part of the reason GEN Zaluzhny’s 8 Offensive Operations in 2023 failed. And yes, GEN Zaluzhny has a 100% Soviet mindset.
GEN Syrskyi participated in many NATO training exercises as a Ukrainian Military Representative. He has 2 problems using NATO schemes of maneuver. 1ST, the Ukrainian Military still employs Soviet Unit Organization. This Unit Organization limits at each level of Command, that Commander’s ability to maneuver to achieve Objectives without calling higher Command for help. 2ND, there are only about 18 Brigade Commanders of NATO quality. There are ZERO Division and Corps Commanders unless GEN Syrskyi and/or his Staff personally leads an Offensive Operation. NO NATO Military has such a deficit in leadership at the Division and Corps Levels.
GEN Syrskyi tried to fix this issue by creating new Brigades in NATO countries using experienced members of existing Brigades. To this leadership nucleus, about 50% of the Brigade would have new recruits. My estimation was this process would take about 8 months. Unfortunately, experienced Brigades used this opportunity to push out their weakest experienced soldiers. The new recruits were not given Basic Training inside Ukraine nor at a training site in the Baltics or UK. This led to a fiasco in France. GEN Syrskyi’s concept was correct. However, one of his personal Staff had to oversee the process. The experienced troops should have been pulled from promotion lists without local Unit input. New recruits should have been through Basic and AIT training as Infantry prior to being sent to France. All troops should have been restricted to post during training. This would have created a NATO Unit Organized, NATO scheme of maneuver Brigade. Ukrainians need 4 Brigades and 1 Regiment Artillery to create a Division capable of Offensive Operations. While the Brigade is being trained, a Ukrainian Division Commander and Staff need training on battle planning including war gaming, battle execution, and critical analysis called an AAR (After Action Review). This is on done on simulators, with real map boards, using a TOC environment, versus a trained OPFOR. The Staff e should be able to complete 2 missions per month, until everyone in the Division knows their tasks and what the Commander wants or should want.
Stephen you are totally right about NCOs except that many have been given the rank - quite rightly based upon battle experience but with no underpinning NCO training and skills. You are wrong about the officer class. They have been trained as NCOs and followers and many were educated in Universities and have had little practical experience before command. I know this for a fact as my assistant was one of those and I have been and looked. These people have no idea at all of maneuver warfare either in doctrine or practice. Finally the idea that brigades were somehow seeded by experienced people is a joke. Most of those with experience were not put into leadership positions nor given time and opportunity to make things work. And the fundamental skills sets required for drones, EW, artillery, mortars, communications etc were either half done or even absent from the mix.
@ I guess to did not read my post. The NCOs and NCO Corps training program was set up by the US/UK/Canada, but continued as a Ukrainian program. Some Units like 3RD Brigade Infantry (SPEC/Azov), continued this training within their Units. As far as the published record shows, the Ukrainian Officer Corps had no NATO quality training. Some Lieutenants may have gotten training from their NCOs. Other Lieutenants may have been college educated Sergeants who were promoted to Officer. Nevertheless, this is NOT Officer training to NATO standards.
NATO Officers training starts at the Company Command Level. But Companies do not battle plan in NATO. Battalions are the 1ST Staff Level with trained and/or dedicated Officers in Tactics, Military Intelligence, and Logistics. Battalions are the Command Level with Specialty subordinate Units like Artillery, Scouts, Maintenance Support, Medics, and Food Services. Every higher Command has these areas plus additional Specialty Units. Ukrainians are Unit Organized using legacy Soviet models with NATO weapons systems replacing Soviet systems. This Soviet Unit Organization reduces the combat effectiveness of the NATO equipment. Additionally, Ukrainians rarely use NATO manuals for executing Combined Arms Combat.
For example, in 2023 Offensive Operations in Zaporizhzhia Oblast to breach Surovikin Lines, was obscuration and suppressive fires used? No. Were MICLICs used to breach minefields? No. Ukrainians used MICLICs to clear entrenched troops in tree rows. The US expected Ukrainians to use 3 Axis of Advance towards 1 Objective behind the Surovikin Lines. This would have concentrated fires and obscuration creating a combat multiplier. Instead, GEN Zaluzhny diluted his combat power across 8 separate Offenses.
Batterfield in Ukraine seems to be a great combat drone lab. It also has some characteristics of guerilla warfare (civilians providing all kinds of support).
Mr. Grant's comments about the Ukrainian Military being heavily influenced by a Hierarchical Soviet Military Mindset seem a bit over-the-top ... all of the other reporting I've seen says that the Ukrainian Military has been excelling in Distributed Leadership and Initiative ...
Regardless, I liked Mr. Grant's idea of a "Strata of Oligarchs" all across the world. We can see the undermining of Democracy in the United States with High Tech CEOs buying elections and favor. Their allegiance is to their own wealth rather than any Nation State ...
You need more sources and look deeper. You are quite misinformed.
@@PandemoniumMeltDown thanks. But I have to say, I'm one of the most informed people I know. I study this and other news topics on an on-going basis. If Mr. Grant's comments are indeed close to the way things actually are, then we have an Information Communication Problem. I spend something on the order of three hours / day doing nothing but consuming news from a wide variety of sources. That probably puts me in the 99.999% most informed category and the vast majority of people can't afford to spend the amount of time I'm spending consuming news sources. So Mr. Grant and others need to turn up the heat on their information.
@@caseyleedom6771 I see you'll have it your way.
Distributed leadership is a great idea to try and put into western concepts and words for actually a lack of leadership or in many cases crap orders that have to be worked around.
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I wish Thier was a base like we have in america were they get a draft notice and you go there and do a 3 month boot camp and than specialist training and Classes and training for sgts and captains and so
As a Canadian, I wish all children were trained at first aid and, eventually CPR and was maintained, every year. This would force empathy and a deep understanding of the value of life, of how to prevent injuries. I think crime would fall down to near zero.
Former communist colonies have a strong remnant of deep apathy and selfishness, valuing a very small "circle" to the detriment of what's "outside". They don't yield to emergency vehicles gladly, don't offer their public transportation seat to people in need (elderly, pregnant, wounded...), they aren't generous, sometimes even quite cruel, have a propensity to self-victimize and not, I mean not identify with their neighbor's struggles, like a competition for the last piece of bread on the shelves, a starvation genetic memory from a violent past forced upon them for decades...
Some Polish people have inherited hatred of Ukrainians from a past long gone, and cannot identify with the common place that, actually, unite them like blood brothers. Propaganda plays a huge part, as it fuels old wounds... there is lots of work to be done! We're all in this together, keep your stick on the ice! (Red Green quote)
When you learn to save lives, your perspective of many things changes.
Instead, nowadays, video games are teaching to kill without consequences. Some are indoctrinated to exceptionalism, feeling invulnerable, dominating all "others", believing in their "higher purpose and entitlement".
I thought myself to stitch a human like a surgeon (do you know the cost of a single Ethicon Monocryl, needle and suture thread kit, just one?), have been trained at combat first aid and maintained these skills for decades. Not many share my respect for life. Too many take everything for granted. Someone will do, someone will save... god in the sky, thousand virgin upon sacrifice... bull crap! Magical thinking isn't my thing.
Killing is also a useful skill; you can now call me a paradox... meh.
Discipline and ethics are key, in life.
@@PandemoniumMeltDown it could I work in the ems field for years, alot of my coworkers got the opposite effect
i pasted this comment cause i think it is important for folks to know hello the pilot who bombed the drama theater said he had been there before the invasion he recognized the place reported by a Russian war correspondent blond woman on you tube as a refuge for old folk women and all their children painted children in huge letters in front parking area so pilots wouldn't bomb it the pilot bragged about dropping a massive bomb on it killing and burying alive hundreds of civilian's that all are still buried and capped over with concrete to hide the war crime the pilot bragged about his deed on social media afterwards i watched it all on you tube i want Ukraine to liberate Mariupol so the victims may be exhumed and given a proper burials God help Ukraine in Jesus name Amen
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To add a bit more context to the discussion of the Russian mentality: it is not just Soviet legacy, but the history of Russians over several centuries - they had slavery till the 1860s, and although it was then abolished, the slave mentality lives on, is passed across generations and is still alive now.
How right you are. And our subversion has been going on since 1917
Ukrainian top general Born in Russia
Parents in Russia
First wife and son in Russia
Fought for Russia 🧐
Since he started 🤔 things have got worse
Leader of Ukraine army 🪖 is Russian
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Very good presentation. I know understand why Trump is targeting Canada and Greenland! I hadn't really put Brexit in the context of breaking the EU.
excellent views particularly the mindset of Eastern European, I would also say similar to some South East Asian militates based on my experience. I do not necessarily agree that Brexit was due to Russian funds...(unless there are are there facts to back this up or is it just a personal opinion)
Greed and corruption knows no borders.
I, along with many supporters of Ukraine, donated to drone projects that significantly impact battle lines. It's frustrating that few in the West are aware of this. Imagine the difference if more people acted independently of their governments! I believe the media's lack of proper reporting and the apathy of everyday people play a big role in this ignorance.
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Maybe the current UK Govt should not have increased Civil Servant pay and subsequent ongoing pension costs but put that increase for Government borrowing into the Defence budget? Which is better for the the long term UK security increase... Civil Servant pay and pension increase or better UK defense budget?
Wish more discussion was made of this “boss” culture over there. Trying to explain it to people. I tell them to imagine a country run and operated by a bunch of middle level. Store managers who bully and torment their workers.
Initially in 2022 Putin was afraid of mobilization, of Russian's responce... and now, meat greander and nobody protests.
Why do you always talk about Russia as if it were the only country at war?
Why do you always demonstrate your not so bright self on the internet?
What do you mean? Are you also being genocided by an imperialist kleptocratic fascist autocrat totalitarian regime? Would you like to talk about it? Would you like a bowl of steaming hot Vatnik Soup to go with your BRICK rainbow and butterflies? Are you in South Africa and are struggling to post on RUclips between two power cuts because all the wires were stolen? Are you in China and are using a VPN, even if it's a second degree terrorist act punishable by 20 years in "prison" (more like being recycled for parts)... Do you need help escaping a troll bots forced slave labor farm, under duress in South-East Asia after having been kidnapped? Do you think people only look at one thing exclusively, disregarding all other things? Can you brush your teeth and breathe at the same time? Do you have political agency and civic rights?
Soviet mindset is why it is still kicking. Sandhurst graduate only knows how to lose to Taliban, he is not in a position to criticise anyone.
But it is the Russian Soviet mindset that is crushing the mighty NATO mindset on the battlefield.
From UA, if you need a photographer with Press Credentials or Videographer, please let me know. (Not me, just excellent referral). Cheers.
PLEASE turn the mike UP... this not npr.. thank god
I thought the Ukrainians had been very innovative in using drones. Well so the news reports tell us. Then why is there a lack enthusiasm from the MSM to report Ukraine in contrast to Israel for example? There seems to be a disconnection somewhere.
Congress can stop him from doing stupid shit but can't stop him from saying stupid shit.
If militaries fight the last war, is Russia 2 or 3 wars behind?