Former Ukrainian Army Chief Warns NATO's Combat Model is Outdated.

Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and current Ambassador to the UK, has issued a stark warning regarding NATO’s military readiness. Speaking at the London Defence Conference in May 2025, Zaluzhnyi stressed that NATO's current combat strategies are increasingly disconnected from the evolving realities of modern warfare.

He emphasized that NATO must rethink its entire approach to defense, including tactics, training, and budgeting, as traditional models have proven ineffective against new technological advancements in warfare, such as drones and precision-guided munitions.

Zaluzhnyi’s remarks come in light of Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, where the rapid evolution of battlefield technology has exposed vulnerabilities in large-scale troop deployments and mechanized combat. He called for a complete overhaul of NATO’s doctrines to ensure they remain relevant in the face of emerging threats, with Ukraine’s experience on the front lines serving as a crucial reference point.

Source: Business Insider & Tandfonline.