From “Special” to “Military”

Now that Russia’s Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine has entered its third year, we can conclude that, like any major war of the past several centuries, it has confounded many predictions, theories, and assumptions. Its initiators, participants, and observers, on both sides, have been faced with that which they did not expect or plan for. Two years of fighting have revealed the contours of revolutionary changes in military theory and practice, possibly predetermining the character of war for the entire 21st century.