So, like, Vladimir Putin was all about this “special military operation” in February 2022, right? He was going on about saving Russian speakers in the Donbas region from genocide, “demilitarizing and de-nazifying” Ukraine, and making sure Ukraine stays out of NATO. But, like, turns out his plan to demilitarize Ukraine totally flopped, and now Ukraine is like this super strong military power in Europe.
Back in 2014, when Russia first invaded Ukraine in Crimea and eastern regions, Ukraine was pretty much defenseless because of years of neglect and corruption. But then, when their existence was threatened, they were all like, “We need to modernize our army, like, ASAP.” So, they started expanding their Armed Forces and making all these reforms based on NATO standards.
After Russia invaded again in 2022, Ukraine’s military transformation went into overdrive. They now have, like, a million soldiers, which makes them the biggest army in Europe. And their defense industry has grown a ton in the last few years, providing for like 40 percent of their military needs.
Ukraine’s survival as a nation now depends a lot on their own defense sector. At first, they were getting help from Western allies, which was cool and all, but then it got all complicated with delays and stuff. And now, with Trump back in the picture, the US isn’t really keen on supporting Ukraine militarily anymore. So, Ukraine was like, “Okay, we need to step up our own game.”
They started making all these new military technologies, like software and combat drones, to level the playing field with Russia. And, like, they’ve gotten really good at it. Their drone warfare is, like, top-notch, and they’re pumping out drones like crazy.
Europe is starting to see Ukraine as a key player in their security, especially since the US is kind of pulling back. They’re investing in Ukraine’s defense industry and working together to strengthen their military ties.
The Russian invasion, like, forced Ukraine to become this major military power and a leader in defense tech. And now they’re, like, set to be a big player in European security for a long time.
So, it’s pretty clear that Ukraine has come a long way in a short time when it comes to their military strength. And with Europe backing them up, they’re in a good position to face whatever comes their way.
