Four Years Fighting Russia: An American Soldier’s Testimony

2026-07-07

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David, a U.S. military veteran who has been fighting voluntarily alongside Ukrainian forces, joins School of War to discuss how four years on the front lines have transformed modern warfare. How has combat in Ukraine changed since Russia’s 2022 invasion? Why have first-person view drones become the defining weapon of the war? What misconceptions does the West still have about the Russian military? And what lessons must the United States absorb before its next major conflict? 02:49 - David’s military history 05:56 - What bro...

David, a U.S. military veteran who has been fighting voluntarily alongside Ukrainian forces, joins School of War to discuss how four years on the front lines have transformed modern warfare. How has combat in Ukraine changed since Russia’s 2022 invasion? Why have first-person view drones become the defining weapon of the war? What misconceptions does the West still have about the Russian military? And what lessons must the United States absorb before its next major conflict?

02:49 - David’s military history

05:56 - What brought David to Ukraine

07:37 - Russia's failed invasion of Kyiv

10:24 - How Ukraine turned the tide in 2022

17:04 - How Ukraine adapted to Russia's invasion

19:06 - America's role in Ukraine's early success

23:59 - How the battlefield has evolved since 2022

28:15 - Experiencing Russian artillery

37:22 - From artillery warfare to drone warfare

40:41 - Why FPV drones are terrifying

44:20 - The modern "gray zone"

49:26 - Why Russia is still a military threat