I don’t talk about Ukraine as much as I used to. Not because it’s not important—but because a lot of people have tuned it out. It’s been going on long enough that it’s faded into the background noise for most Americans. That’s a mistake. Because what’s happening in Ukraine right now is a preview of the future of warfare—and it has direct implications for U.S. national security.

Let me explain.

(If you missed the LIVE, you can watch it HERE )

A War on Civilians, Not Soldiers

Russia just launched one of the largest aerial assaults of the entire war—over 1,500 drones and missiles in about a 30-hour period.

Think about that for a second. Thirty straight hours of air raid sirens. Explosions. Families hiding in basements. Kids wondering if their apartment building is next. And here’s the part that matters most: these weren’t primarily military targets. Russia is targeting civilians—apartment buildings, infrastructure, everyday people. That’s not accidental. It’s intentional. It’s terrorism as strategy.

I’ve stood in the rubble of those buildings. I’ve seen what’s left behind. One image that still sticks with me is a little girl’s pet turtle—blown out of an apartment after a missile strike, painted toenails and all. They never found the girl. That’s what this war looks like on the ground.

Ukraine Fights a Different Kind of War

Now contrast that with how Ukraine is fighting. While Russia is hitting civilians, Ukraine is targeting oil refineries, aircraft, radar systems—military infrastructure that actually affects the war effort. That difference matters. Ukraine isn’t trying to terrorize the Russian population. They’re trying to degrade Russia’s ability to wage war. That’s the difference between a military campaign and a campaign of intimidation. And it’s one of the reasons Ukrainian morale is holding strong—even under constant attack.

The Drone War Has Changed Everything

If you want to understand where warfare is heading, don’t look at tanks. Look at drones. Ukraine is now operating at a level that frankly should concern every military planner in the United States. They’ve figured out how to:

• Launch drones remotely from hidden platforms
• Fly them from anywhere in the world
• Strike deep inside enemy territory
• Automate large portions of the battlefield

We’re talking about unmanned ground vehicles evacuating wounded soldiers. Armed robotic systems holding defensive positions. Drone boats launching missiles and aerial drones from the sea. At one point, a single unmanned ground vehicle reportedly held off a Russian unit for over a month.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth: the United States is behind in this area. We’re now sending personnel to learn from the Ukrainians.

Russia Is Bleeding Itself Out

Despite the massive attacks, Russia is not winning this war. They’re losing soldiers at a staggering rate—far faster than they can replace them. And that matters long-term. Wars aren’t just about territory. They’re about demographics, economics, and sustainability. Russia is burning through its future—its young men, its workforce, its ability to project power decades from now. Meanwhile, Ukraine is fighting like a country that knows it has no choice. Because for Ukraine, this isn’t a war of choice. It’s an existential fight. If they lose, their country ceases to exist.

Propaganda Is a Battlefield Too

Another piece of this war that doesn’t get enough attention is information warfare. There’s a massive amount of Russian propaganda circulating—especially on social media—trying to paint Ukraine as the aggressor or muddy the waters about what’s actually happening. But the basic facts haven’t changed:

Russia invaded Ukraine.
Ukraine didn’t invade Russia.

Everything else spins out from that reality.

Why This Matters to You

You might be thinking, “Okay, but why should I care?”

Here’s why.