Ukraine's defence gaps: Insider reveals urgent challenges
During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Warsaw, comments were made about the robust state of the national defence industry, which is capable of fulfilling an increasing range of needs. However, a military analyst with 37 years of experience in the British Army highlights several significant gaps that could jeopardize the war's success.
Glen Grant, a military analyst and defence expert with extensive experience in the British Army, frankly assessed Ukraine's challenges in the war with Russia during an interview with Defence Blog. Grant, who was the first advisor to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence at the onset of the war in 2014, shared insights into the governance issues and defence gaps hindering the country's path to victory.
Grant identified complacency and poor management at various government levels as Ukraine's most pressing challenges. "The biggest challenge is the failure of the government to take the war seriously on all levels," Grant stated. "There is too much smug complacency and PR instead of taking hard actions to remove the weak and unskilled and Russian-leaning individuals in many areas of public life, replacing them not with friends but with more capable people, whatever their political allegiance.
This criticism also extended to military leadership, where Grant stressed the urgent need to prioritize leadership and management to enhance Ukraine's battlefield success.
Ukraine's problems — solving them is a difficult and long-term process
In defence and the defence industry, Grant highlighted gaps in equipment and training of frontline units. "There is still no coherence or understanding about the need to maintain a high level of basics like mortars, night sights, cars, and drones. There should not be a need for society to pick up the pieces for poor logistic systems." It is worth noting that many military units still largely rely on volunteer collections to provide what is needed.
Grant also described the fragmented Ukrainian defence industry, noting that private companies are technologically advanced but underfunded and lack clear, long-term planning relationships with the government. Meanwhile, though partially reformed, government-funded entities still do not meet the country's defence needs.
Notably, many units still rely on volunteer support because the Ukrainian state cannot provide what is needed. There are also instances of faulty equipment deliveries, as demonstrated by the recallFaulty equipment deliveries are also a problem
Ukraine's capabilities — enormous potential
When asked whether Ukraine can defeat Russia, Grant responded emphatically: "Yes." However, his optimism was tempered by a warning of the need for increased responsibility and strategic action.
Grant emphasized that Ukraine would face a critical turning point if international support ceased. "Ukrainian society would double down and start to get serious about corruption and inefficiency, forcing the government to stop living on dreams and hype and make proper decisions. Unless there is an election to bring in people who want to win and govern honestly and not just make and steal money, this may not be a totally peaceful change."
Grant's assessment underscores the need for Ukraine to address its internal challenges, bolster its defence capabilities, and promote effective leadership to ensure resilience amid ongoing aggression. His insights provide a clear call to action for Ukrainian leaders and society as the country seeks to survive and triumph over Russian forces.
Ukrainian innovations — despite problems, there are some "gems"
Ukraine is currently producing not only thousands of drones for frontline use but also for conducting attacks deep inside Russia. Some of these, like "Rubaka" or "Bóbr," are based on model parts purchased globally or on modified light aircraft or Tu-141 Strizh drones.
Additionally, more advanced drones with "Palyanytsia" turbojet engines are being developed, conceptually close to cruise missiles, and Ukrainians have begun producing ballistic missiles. New missiles such as Grom-2 or older ones like Tochka-U range from 120 kilometres to possibly even 500 kilometres.
An intriguing system is the 2S22 Bogdana howitzer, which began mass production in April 2024 and is produced in 20 units monthly. It is a straightforward system in which a 155-mm calibre gun with a 52-calibre long barrel and a semi-automatic loading system are mounted on a truck with an armoured cabin.
The result is a simple system with a firing rate of up to 6 rounds per minute and a range of up to 30 kilometres for the simplest DM121-type shells. This still provides an advantage over Russian 122 mm and 152 mm artillery, which is usually limited to around 25 kilometres. On the other hand, rocket-assisted shells like M549A1 allow targets to be hit even at 60 kilometres.
Adding the capability to fire in the MRSI (Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact) mode creates a highly effective and economical system that Ukraine needs in abundance. Currently, Ukraine lacks sufficient modern equipment to offset Russia's numerical advantage.
