The Russo-Ukrainian War: Protracted Warfare Implications for the U.S. Army

Charles McEnany & Colonel Daniel S. Roper, USA, Ret.

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Introduction

In its third year since the 2022 invasion, the Russo-Ukrainian War shows few clear signs of abating. What many assumed would be a short, decisive war has become a test of endurance and adaptation. The U.S. Army is studying the conflict as it “continuously transforms” for large-scale combat operations (LSCO).1

Building on AUSA Spotlight 23-1, The Russia-Ukraine War One Year In: Implications for the U.S. Army,2 this paper analyzes the war through three interconnected lenses: protracted conflict, the dynamic character of warfare and military transformation. These lenses focus on trends in the Russo-Ukrainian War relevant to U.S. Army transformation for protracted LSCO.

The paper provides one or more observations that discuss critical features of the Russo-Ukrainian War for each lens.

Each observation is linked with one or more implication(s). Implications suggest actions that the U.S. Army, DoD and Congress can take to close gaps in the U.S. ability to deter or prevail in LSCO (Figure 2). These implications identify the significance of land power trends and challenges as the U.S. joint force transforms to remain effective across regions and against various potential adversaries. Some implications discuss how observations from Ukraine could be relevant to war with China in the Indo-Pacific, DoD’s priority theater.