A Three-Day Symposium on the Future of Modern Warfare

UFF recently hosted a three-day symposium on modern warfare, bringing together Ukrainian defenders, technology specialists, civilian witnesses, and U.S. military leaders.

As summarized by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) David A. Deptula, the event gave the American public direct access to perspectives rarely presented together: frontline operators, senior Ukrainian leadership, civilians living under constant attack, and international experts connecting Ukraine’s experience to U.S. strategy and future defense planning.

This combination of operational experience, strategic analysis, and human testimony showed how the war is being fought today — and why its lessons matter beyond Ukraine.

Operational Reality

Keynote: Operational Update on Ukraine — April 23

Gen. David McKiernan (U.S. Army, Ret.) opened the symposium with a current, front-line-informed overview of the situation in Ukraine. His remarks grounded the discussion in the reality of an ongoing war and reinforced why continued support for Ukraine directly impacts broader global security.

Impact on U.S. Strategy

How Ukraine’s War Is Influencing U.S. Operations — April 24

UFF advisory board member Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) connected Ukraine’s experience to U.S. defense planning. Lessons from Ukraine are already shaping how the U.S. approaches deterrence, operations, and future conflicts. Ukraine provides real-world evidence of how precision systems, unmanned technologies, and electronic warfare are changing modern warfare.

Doctrine and Training

Development of Military Doctrine in Ukraine — April 24

Ukraine continues to adapt its training and leadership development while under pressure. This includes implementing NATO-standard decision-making and preparing the next generation of leaders. For the American audience, this showed how doctrine evolves in practice — not in theory, but under constant risk.

Technology and Warfare

Drones, Electronic Warfare, and Emerging Technologies — April 24–25

Ukraine has become a real-time environment for testing and deploying new technologies. Ukrainian experts shared how unmanned systems, electronic warfare, and other tools are integrated into operations. A separate session focused specifically on UAVs and how low-cost, adaptable systems are changing reconnaissance, targeting, and decision-making on the ground.

What Should Be Learned

Applying Lessons from Ukraine — April 24

A discussion between Lt. Gen. Deptula and Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery examined which lessons from Ukraine apply broadly — and which are specific to this war. This distinction helps avoid misinterpreting Ukraine’s experience while still using it to improve future preparedness.

Life Under Constant Pressure

Civilian Experience in Ukraine — April 24–25

Speakers shared what it means to live under continuous attack while maintaining daily life, infrastructure, and social stability. Yana Bilash, a Kyiv resident who remained in Ukraine during the most intense periods, provided a personal perspective that connected the strategic discussion to human experience.

Frontline Perspective

The Modern Combat Experience — April 25

Ukrainian officers and veterans described how modern combat combines traditional demands — leadership, endurance, logistics — with constant technological pressure from drones, sensors, and precision threats. This perspective helped translate abstract concepts into real conditions faced on the ground.

These discussions show how Ukraine is shaping the future of warfare in real time — and why continued support remains critical.

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Glory to Ukraine!