News

‘Decrepit’ to ‘effective’: ex-U.S. adviser on Ukraine’s forces

Published

4 years ago

March 30, 2022

Reuters

A retired U.S. military colonel who helped train and reform Ukraine’s military following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 told Reuters on Saturday (March 26) that Ukraine’s military has gone from a ‘decrepit’ state, to becoming effective at fending off Russian advances in major Ukrainian cities.

Retired U.S. Army colonel Liam Collins has seen first-hand the Ukrainian military transform from what he calls a ‘decrepit’ force into an effective operation capable of fending off Russian advances.

“Ukraine’s military in 2014 was decrepit, it really didn’t have a lot of training capability, they weren’t effective at the tactical level.

So, it wasn’t a surprise to see how poorly they performed at that time given their level of training.”

In 2014, Russian forces were able to seize parts of Ukraine with relative ease.

Collins, a career special-forces soldier, served as the executive officer for the Defense Department’s special adviser to Ukraine working to reform that nation’s military establishment in 2016, at the end of the Obama administration.

One success, Collins said, was changing the Ukrainian command structure, giving junior leaders the ability to make battlefield decisions, rather than a top-down command approach.

“It allows them to take initiative on the battlefield, right? You might be given some orders, ‘Go take this hill,’ for example, and if you can’t adjust on that, you’re just going to keep running up the hill into the hornet’s nest.

You have to empower leaders to make those kind of quick decisions, but it also requires a trained professional military to do that.'”

Collins said the Russian military appears to have taken a less flexible approach at the tactical level.

“If you have a conscript army, which a lot of the Russians are, you’re not going to be capable of executing that same kind of discipline initiative at the tactical level.”

Not to be overlooked, Collins said – Ukrainians’ fierce hold on their independence.”They don’t want to be part of Russia. They like their civil liberties. They like a higher standard of living.

And so that’s why they’re going to fight so hard.”

Via our partners at Reuters

Related Topics:Politics trending ukraine

Up Next

Christian Eriksen returns to pitch where he suffered cardiac arrest

Don't Miss

Explosion in Russia near Ukrainian border

Reuters

News

SpaceX IPO could make Elon Musk’s Mars dream a trillion-dollar reality

SpaceX’s upcoming IPO could raise $25 billion and value the company over $1 trillion, igniting investor excitement for Mars missions.

Published

8 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Harvey Vargas

SpaceX’s upcoming IPO could raise $25 billion and value the company over $1 trillion, igniting investor excitement for Mars missions.

Investors are buzzing as SpaceX gears up for a potential IPO, aiming to raise more than $25 billion, possibly as soon as June. The offering could value the company at over $1 trillion, fueling Musk’s ambitious plans for Mars and beyond.

Despite the high-risk nature of space ventures, demand from retail investors is expected to be strong. Experts predict this IPO could become historic, with the company’s market value potentially soaring past $2 trillion once it launches.

Musk’s unconventional management style hasn’t slowed investor enthusiasm, even amidst regulatory hurdles. The funds raised could also support groundbreaking innovations, including energy-efficient space data centers.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

#SpaceX #ElonMusk #IPO #MarsMission #Investing #StockMarket #TrillionDollar #SpaceTech

News

Russia shoots down 280+ Ukrainian drones as Zelenskyy pushes new peace plan

Russia claims 280 Ukrainian drones shot down; Zelenskyy finalizes a new peace proposal amid rising tensions and military clashes.

Published

8 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Russia claims 280 Ukrainian drones shot down; Zelenskyy finalizes a new peace proposal amid rising tensions and military clashes.

Russia’s Defence Ministry claims it has shot down over 280 Ukrainian drones, with 40 intercepted near Moscow, some targeting the city directly. Emergency services responded to debris, and temporary flight restrictions were enforced at Moscow’s airports amid the attacks.

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy revealed his team is finalizing a revised 20-point peace proposal, introducing new ideas on territorial control. Ukrainian and American officials are set to consult online, focusing on security guarantees rather than the detailed points of the plan.

As tensions rise, both military clashes and diplomatic efforts continue to shape the future of the conflict. Keep up with the latest updates and expert analysis on these unfolding events.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

#UkraineConflict #RussiaUkraine #Zelenskyy #DroneAttack #PeacePlan #Moscow #WorldNews #TickerUpdates

News

Disney invests $1B in OpenAI to generate Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar videos

Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI for AI-generated videos featuring iconic characters, enhancing fan interactions and launching in 2026.

Published

8 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI for AI-generated videos featuring iconic characters, enhancing fan interactions and launching in 2026.

Disney is taking AI to the next level, investing $1 billion in OpenAI to create a licensing deal that allows users to generate videos featuring more than 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar. This partnership could redefine how fans interact with their favorite characters.

The deal will let users stream short AI-generated videos directly on Disney+, and ChatGPT will also produce images of Disney’s licensed characters. However, the agreement excludes talent likenesses or voices, keeping human performances separate.

Set to launch in 2026, the collaboration also gives Disney warrants to purchase additional OpenAI equity and use AI tools for product development, opening doors to new creative opportunities.

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker