MAY 2025
Lessons from the
Ukraine Conict
Modern Warfare in the Age of Autonomy,
Information, and Resilience
By Matthew N. Slusher
Executive Summary
The Russia-Ukraine war has emerged as a watershed moment in modern military history, fundamentally
reshaping our understanding of contemporary warfare. This white paper analyzes ve transformative
domains that have dened this conict: autonomous systems, information operations, electronic
warfare, contested logistics, and evolving air defense strategies. By examining the practical applications
and lessons learned from this ongoing conict, this paper provides military planners, defense
policymakers, and security professionals with actionable insights for adapting force structures,
doctrines, and capabilities to meet the challenges of future warfare. The conict serves as both warning
and blueprint—demonstrating how technological innovation, organizational adaptability, and strategic
resilience have become the dening characteristics of military eectiveness in the twenty-rst century.
Introduction
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 marked a pivotal moment in modern military history, opening new
avenues for studying the evolving nature of warfare. What Russian leadership initially anticipated would
be a swift campaign has instead developed into a protracted conict, transforming the battleeld into a
real-world laboratory for testing new military technologies, doctrines, and operational adaptations.
Among the most signicant developments observed in Ukraine has been the transformative role of
autonomous systems, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These emerging technologies
are revolutionizing battleeld dynamics, extending operational reach while minimizing risks to
human forces and challenging traditional force structures. Simultaneously, the conict has elevated
