Fmr. Commander US Army Europe Says Ukrainian Military Modernized, Better Since 2014

Video Above: Former Commander US Army Europe, Ben Hodges, Analyzes Russia-Ukraine War

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

Former European Army Commander ret. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges is not surprised by the effective infantry tactics being used by the Ukrainian infantry, as he has watched them and seen them develop as a key US ally for many years now.

Ukrainian Infantry

As the Commander in charge of Army Europe, Hodges crafted, strengthened and maintained crucial US alliances with NATO allies and key countries such as Ukraine. He told Warrior that Ukraine has modernized its military in a substantial way and refined its training and combat tactics.

“I have watched them over the last 10 years. They have dramatically improved. They have grown and they have modernized. This is a much better land force than we’ve seen in 2014. I’m not surprised they are doing so well against the Russians. The question is, can they continue to do this despite the Russian advantage in artillery and rockets,” Hodges said.

Like many observers, Hodges credited Ukrainian tenacity, will to fight and successful hit and run ambush tactics as key reasons why, as he put it, “they are doing very well so far.”

“The Ukrainian infantry are out performing the Russian infantry to include the Russian paratroopers that were brought in to take airfields,” Hodges said.