When the world's at stake,
go beyond the headlines.

Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public argument in a nation at war. The perspectives gathered here are varied, candid, and often surprising, together forming a more complete picture of Ukraine as it really is.Frontline and StrategyУкраїнський тиждень — Ukrainskyi Tyzhden (“The Ukrainian Week”)Weekly magazine with a national-democratic and conservative voice“The War and the Army That Changed Ukraine and the World” By Viktor Taran/ Feb. 24, 2026Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion continued a war that really began in 2014, when Ukraine’s army was hollowed out and barely combat-ready. The shock of Crimea and Donbas forced sweeping reforms: mobilization, professionalization, NATO-aligned training, decentralized command, and revived missile programs, Viktor Taran writes. By 2022, Ukraine fielded experienced officers, a functioning command system, and reserves, enabling it to blunt Russia’s initial assault. Since then, the military has transformed again— expanding to nearly two million personnel, integrating drones and precision fires, digitizing command, and embedding Western support into operations. Despite strains and setbacks, Ukraine has evolved into a large, adaptive, technologically driven force built for prolonged war, Taran explains.“Over the years, we have seen how the army of several thousand combat-capable military has grown to almost two million forces, which is in the top twenty of the strongest armies in the world. But something else became decisive: a change in the principles of management, new weapons systems, modern tactics that the world admires and tries to copy, a high level of training and