Welcome back to Five Questions for a General, a production of the Modern War Institute at West Point. This series features specially selected cadet hosts who are given an incredible professional development opportunity—to sit down with senior military officers and ask carefully crafted questions about everything from leadership to their unique experiences while serving, to their expectations about the future of war.
In this episode, Cadet Zach Olson speaks with US Lieutenant General Curtis Buzzard and Ukrainian Major General Volodymyr Horbatiuk about how the ongoing conflict in Ukraine illustrates a reshaping of modern warfare. The war is heavily characterized by rapid innovation, the widespread use of drones, and data-driven operations. As a result, its battlefields are more transparent, decentralized, and lethal than any before. The guests emphasize that while the nature of war remains constant, its character is evolving quickly, driven by necessity, technology, and the integration of civilian expertise. The conversation also highlights leadership lessons, including the importance of mission command, adaptability, humility, and learning from failure, alongside the immense resilience of Ukrainian forces and society. Ultimately, they stress that Ukraine serves as a real-world laboratory for future conflict, and that militaries must learn from it faster than their adversaries to avoid paying a higher cost in future wars.
To learn more about the topics covered in this podcast, check out the MWI Ukraine Papers as well as the MWI Autonomy Papers.
