Former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, now serving as ambassador to Britain, Valery Zaluzhny gave an interview to Ukrainian media in which he acknowledged that Russian military science continues to surpass Ukraine’s. He recalled that in the early 2010s he was offered the chance to study at a Russian military academy.

Zaluzhny admitted that, at the time, such an education looked superior to what Ukraine could provide. He noted that even today, much of advanced military theory and practice remains in Russia, despite disagreements with his view. He added that during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovich he received an invitation to study at a Russian academy, which he described as an impressive opportunity. Ultimately, however, another officer was chosen, and Zaluzhny enrolled in a Ukrainian institution instead.

The former commander stressed that he remains convinced that Russia continues to hold the core of military science.

In the same interview, Zaluzhny also spoke about the rapid technological changes reshaping the battlefield. He compared the situation to scenes from the film Terminator, arguing that inexpensive combat robots and drones capable of precise targeting are already a reality. He warned that such systems, costing as little as fifty dollars, can track down soldiers, forcing militaries to seek new solutions.

In his view, the old approach of reinforcing the front line with large numbers of troops is no longer viable in modern warfare.