Ukrainian Armed Forces to Launch New System for Analyzing Combat Operations

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are developing an information and communication system to systematize and share the experiences of combat units and to collect materials for operational analysis.

The initiative was announced by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi during a monthly meeting on basic, professional, and collective military training.

“The level of task execution and, most importantly, the preservation of the lives and health of Ukrainian soldiers depends on the quality of training,” Syrskyi stressed.

Changes have also been introduced to current training programs in small arms shooting, combat vehicle operation, and sniper training.

The basic military training curriculum has been updated to improve tactical pre-hospital care, particularly regarding the use of tourniquets. Training approaches have been revised, and additional time has been allocated for this module.

AAR (After Action Review)

An After Action Review (AAR) is a structured analysis of actions taken during an operation or exercise. It is used to systematically evaluate combat or training activities.

The primary purpose of an AAR is to help participants assess what was planned, what actually occurred, why it happened, and how future performance can be improved.

AARs are conducted shortly after an event — whether an operation, battle, or exercise — and can be either formal, with structured reports, or informal, through quick team discussions.

A key principle of AARs is openness and constructiveness: the aim is not to assign blame but to identify lessons and improve future operations.

AAR materials are often archived and used to train other units or to support planning for future missions.

In the U.S. military, AARs are a mandatory part of every training and combat operation. This approach is now being actively adopted by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.