Book Review: Tactical and Strategic Insights from the Russo-Ukrainian War: Western Security and Defence in the 21st Century edited by Thomas-Durell Young and Jarosław Gryz (2025)
Pub. online: 19 June 2026
Type: Book Review
Open Access
Received
26 October 2025
26 October 2025
Accepted
1 March 2026
1 March 2026
Published
19 June 2026
19 June 2026
Abstract
The Russo-Ukrainian war, that was forecasted by some experts to last merely a few days,
is already into its 5th year. Mounting evidence conveys that Russia started the invasion of Ukraine
by ignoring all of the concepts it had been advocating and implementing since the beginning of its military
reform in 2008. The war has demonstrated several essential changes in the battlefield operations, war-waging practices,
recruitment of troops, and force structures.
This collection of chapters portrays how new technologies and innovations impact tactics and are arguably
rewriting the rules and norms of conflict. These innovations allowed for the creation of new
methods of OSINT analysis and war monitoring. The book, consisting of twelve separate studies,
examines different issues and topics relevant for today’s journalists, academics, as well as military
experts and practitioners.
References
AI Statement:
The author declares that Artificial Intelligence was
not used in the preparation of this book review in any way.
Gryz,
Jarosław,
Saborń,
Andrzej,
Majchrzak,
Dariusz,
Król,
Krzysztof, and
Wilk,
Andrzej.
(2025)
‘Lessons Observed from the Critical Energy Infrastructure: Its Role in the Russian-Ukrainian War’,
in Young, T.-D. and
Gryz, J. (eds.),
Tactical and Strategic Insights from the Russo-Ukrainian War:
Western Security and Defence in the 21st Century
.
University of Exeter Press,
pp. 224-239.
Gryz,
Jarosław and
Young,
Thomas-Durell.
(2025b)
‘Conclusion: Preliminary Insights for NATO Defence Officials and Planners’,
in Young, T.-D. and
Gryz, J. (eds.),
Tactical and Strategic Insights from the Russo-Ukrainian War:
Western Security and Defence in the 21st Century
.
University of Exeter Press,
pp. 256-272.
Lazar,
Zsolt.
(2025)
‘OSINT Chronicles: Analysing Frontline Dynamics, Equipment Losses,
and Casualties in the First 500 Days of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
’,
in Young, T.-D. and
Gryz, J. (eds.),
Tactical and Strategic Insights from the Russo-Ukrainian War:
Western Security and Defence in the 21st Century
.
University of Exeter Press,
pp. 33-58.
Mickiewicz ,
Piotr and
Daniel D.
(2025)
‘The Black Sea as an Area of Miliary Operations
during the Russian ‘Special Operation’
’,
in Young, T.-D. and
Gryz, J. (eds.),
Tactical and Strategic Insights from the Russo-Ukrainian War:
Western Security and Defence in the 21st Century
.
University of Exeter Press,
pp. 143-162.
Sciutto,
Jim and
Bo Lillis,
Katie.
(2022)
‘US Concerned Kyiv Could Fall to Russia within Days,
Sources Familiar with Intel Say’,
CNN,
[online] 25 January 2022. Available at:
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/25/politics/kyiv-russia-ukraine-us-intelligence/index.html
Urych,
Ilona,
Korzeniowska-Bihun,
Anna,
Boroch,
Robert, and
Szczurek,
Tadeusz.
(2025)
‘Ukrainian Cultural Heritage in the Russian-Ukrainian War:
Ukrainian Theatre – A Case Study’,
in Young,
T.-D. and
Gryz,
J. (eds.),
Tactical and Strategic Insights from the Russo-Ukrainian War:
Western Security and Defence in the 21st Century.
University of Exeter Press,
pp. 203-223.