Sethi, Sanjay    <br/><br/>
Modern positional warfare and how to win it: A logistician’s perspective  

 - U.S.I. Journal: India’s Oldest Journal on Defence Affairs  
 - 154(638), Oct-Dec, 2024: p.564-573    
<br/><br/> <br/>The protracted conflict in Ukraine has underscored the evolving nature of modern positional warfare and the critical role logistics play in achieving strategic objectives. This paper examines Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s analysis of the challenges faced by Ukraine’s armed forces and his proposed solutions to overcome the stagnation inherent in positional warfare. It highlights five operational aspects influencing this stalemate—air superiority, mine barrier breaching, counter-battery effectiveness, reserve creation and training, and electronic warfare capabilities—underscoring the need for technological innovation and adaptive strategies. The discussion pivots to the rational organisation of military logistics, a central theme in Zaluzhnyi’s framework. Key factors include training investments, North Atlantic Treaty Organization interoperability, decentralised sustainment innovations, and seamless integration of international military assistance. Ukraine’s ability to manage a diverse arsenal and sustain operations under contested conditions is remarkable but fraught with challenges. The article emphasises the significance of building war reserves, highlighting lessons from the war in Europe for recalibrating India’s defence production and logistics paradigms. As logistics serve as the ‘Oxygen of battle’, the paper argues that adopting technologically advanced platforms, optimising information systems and fostering rational logistics frameworks are imperative for modern militaries. It calls for an urgent review of existing paradigms to address the complexities of contested logistics, ensure readiness, and maintain competitive advantage in future conflicts. The insights drawn from Ukraine’s experience resonate universally, providing a blueprint for enhancing military efficiency and resilience in an era defined by rapid technological shifts and asymmetric warfare.- Reproduced <br/><br/>http://43.227.186.66/pdf/20250128100643.pdf<br/>