Ex-US army adviser on Ukraine's forces describe military going from 'decrepit to effective'

Retired U.S. Army colonel Liam Collins has seen firsthand the Ukrainian military transform from what he calls a 'decrepit' force into an effective operation capable of fending off Russian advances.

"Ukraine's military in 2014 was decrepit, it really didn't have a lot of training capability, they weren't effective at the tactical level.

So, it wasn't a surprise to see how poorly they performed at that time given their level of training."

In 2014, Russian forces were able to seize parts of Ukraine with relative ease.

Collins, a career special-forces soldier, served as the executive officer for the Defense Department’s special adviser to Ukraine working to reform that nation’s military establishment in 2016, at the end of the Obama administration.

One success, Collins said, was changing the Ukrainian command structure, giving junior leaders the ability to make battlefield decisions, rather than a top-down command approach.

"It allows them to take initiative on the battlefield, right? You might be given some orders, 'Go take this hill,' for example, and if you can't adjust on that, you're just going to keep running up the hill into the hornet's nest. // You have to empower leaders to make those kind of quick decisions, but it also requires a trained professional military to do that.'"

Collins said the Russian military appears to have taken a less flexible approach at the tactical level.

"If you have a conscript army, which a lot of the Russians are, you're not going to be capable of executing that same kind of discipline initiative at the tactical level."

Not to be overlooked, Collins said - Ukrainians' fierce hold on their independence.

"They don't want to be part of Russia. They like their civil liberties. They like a higher standard of living. // And so that's why they're going to fight so hard."

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[maryramos]

The fighting spirit, the will to live and the motivation from their govt and foreign supporters gives the Ukrainians all the more to fight!

[Oblivisci........]

That older man of about 60 moving inside that trench at the end makes me proud. It isn't even my country, language, and I've only met one family of Ukranian Americans before. I have a cousin in Warsaw and my aunt, uncle, and another cousin live in Munchen. This war hits home for me on more than just an existential level. I've told myself that if Poland is invaded, I'll have enough of a dog in the fight to volunteer. Essentially I won't be able to just be there in spirit and donation anymore. Once you have secondary family threatened it isn't just in your best interest anymore, it's your duty. As mein vater (24 year American Army veteran) has told me since I was a kid, "Freedom isn't free." To my Ukrainian freedom fighters: Liberty or Death!
🇺🇦💛💙❤️🇺🇸

[robertevans]

Green Berets we’re in Ukraine for 5 years after Putin walked into Crimea. They trained the Ukrainian military and it shows. A complete turnaround. Kudos to both the trainers and the students.

[jayd]

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have been over the top amazing. Their training of western forces forces have turned them into fearless warriors. This war needs to end. Slava Ukraine...

[stevetorres]

Slava Ukraini! I’m so proud of Ukraine and everyone who is helping them out… any aid and training they receive they take it and not in vain. It goes to good use.

[joedouche]

Someones will to survive can never be measured on any scale. That's what was Russia's biggest mistake! Under estimating your opposition is their first and last MISTAKE.

[bhut]

Over 500 Canadians fighting with the Ukrainains.

[noahtylerpritchett]

American volunteers have been helping Ukraine since 2014

[Boca-do-rio]

Wise words... Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory... Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. Sun Tzu...

[gdewyg]

He is really dedicated soldier. Thanks for your contribution

[MrPoljako]

1:42 Even Santa has joined Ukrainian Army? Russians have no chance winning!

[rtqii]

Putin mobilized a regiment of the Russian National Guard to go into Ukraine and act as military police in civilian areas in and around Kherson. They were moved in behind the Russian armored combat brigades. The armor continued to attack west and north. The Russian National Guard were driving around, well behind the front lines, in unarmored vehicles... .. . The battalion commanders eventually drove out to find out what happened, and they grouped in the ambush zone, where the Ukrainians wiped them out a second, and then a third time. All in a pre-planned fire zone... Over and over. The entire regiment is destroyed.

[eliaass]

Stay strong ukraine 💪 from finland 🇫🇮❤️🇺🇦

[timmyggztv]

Ukraine Got the greatest soldier of all time

[epramos]

Forming a professional volunteer Army/Military with a strong and professional NCO/Warrant Officer corps similar to the US has helped Ukraine in a sense that they are fighting as professionals and their invaders are fighting with conscripts who don't want to be there.

[mac]

Pressure makes diamonds. It is a shame a horrible tragedy has happened, but a good thing Ukraine has been able to respond so strongly. I pray for the best possible outcomes from this for them, I also pray that Ukranian civilians can return to peace and heal through time. It will not be easy, but hopefully it isn't too hard.

[DixxyV]

If Russia didn't send a wake up call to Ukraine in 2014 in Crimea crisis, they would've snowballed Ukraine in this war.

[sumitthongthos]

Long live the march of the Ukrainian people 💝🇺🇦💙💛💓🌹🦾🦾💪👍

[iheilungnelson]

It is not the Comedian, it is the people's spirit to defend for the unjust of a dictorian mindset.

[wboyle]

The ukraine people are so brave a new meaning for the word brave slava ukraini 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦