Ben Hodges: Russia Changed Its War—Ukraine Changed Faster

Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges joins me to assess how the Ukraine war is changing as winter approaches. We discuss Russia’s growing ability to scale drones and electronic warfare, Ukraine’s faster battlefield adaptation, the vulnerability of Russia’s vast infrastructure, and the political will Europe will need if U.S. support continues to weaken.

Hodges also explains why military culture matters: organizations that punish failure suppress bad news, while learning organizations adapt faster. He argues that Ukraine remains exceptionally strong at innovation and iteration, but still faces a scale problem. He also identifies Russia’s continued strengths in mass and electronic warfare, explains why Russia’s geographic vastness is becoming harder to defend against long-range Ukrainian strikes, and lays out the warning indicators he is watching over the next 90 days.

Chapters

00:00 What’s Different This Winter

01:39 Russia Is Adapting

02:27 Ukraine’s Battlefield Progress

04:45 Who Adapts Faster?

06:29 What Russia Still Does Better

07:06 Russia’s Gray-Zone War

08:19 Is Article 5 Creating Hesitation?

11:14 Can Russia Keep Up With Ukraine?

13:47 Corruption Inside Russia’s Military

15:22 What Makes a Military Learn?

20:07 Russia and Ukraine’s Biggest Vulnerabilities

23:43 What Hodges Is Watching Next

26:10 Final Thoughts

Facts over noise. Context over headlines. Truth over talking points. Principle over partisanship.

Here is the direct link to the Ukraine Support Bridge: https://ukrainesupportbridge.com/

***** To support me as as I provide Ukraine war context: *****

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ProfessorGerdesExplains

Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/professorgerdes

Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/professorgerdes

YouTube Channel Membership: https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes/membership

🇺🇸 Contact the White House to express your support for Ukraine

https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

*****IF YOU WISH TO PROVIDE DIRECT AID TO UKRAINE: *****

🇺🇦 I have partnered with Greg Terry for all donations to Ukraine.

Here is the direct link to the Ukraine Support Bridge: https://ukrainesupportbridge.com/

🇺🇸 Alternatively, you may choose to donate to Samaritan’s Purse:

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/ukraine-response/?utm_source=FY22UkraineResponseVanityURL&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=m_YUKR-22L3&utm_content=Ukraine-Response-Redirect%20%20

🇺🇦 If you wish to support the Ukrainian Army, give directly to United 24. Follow this link: https://u24.gov.ua/

***BUY SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE ***

🇺🇦 If you purchase from Saint Javelin with my link below, a cut of the proceeds will go directly to humanitarian aid for soldiers (bandages, tourniquets, etc.). I don't get the revenue. It goes to buy medical supplies from UnitewithUkraine.com. Use this link: https://www.saintjavelin.com/en-us?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Gerdes

🇺🇸 This is the absolute CHEAPEST THING YOU CAN DO to support Ukraine (This is NOT MY SITE) https://amzn.to/4aPtwQr - Just support the war effort somehow.

🇺🇦 I wrote a book about Ukraine's president Zelenskyy which I have updated for the first 4-5 months of the war in Ukraine: It is free if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited or $9.99 otherwise: https://amzn.to/3Q2wnyE

🇺🇦 If you cannot give or buy, you can like, share, and pray for the people of Ukraine.

🇺🇸 Please leave comments and tell me how I can help you gain more perspective. You can contact me @Dr_Gerdes on Twitter or email professorgerdesyt@gmail.com

#UKRAINE #UKRAINERUSSIAWAR #UKRAINEWAR