A Modern War: A New Perspective from the Front Lines

Ukrainian Student Action Summit signals the culture and opinion surrounding Russia’s war on Ukraine through a new lens.

Credit: Shutterstock.com/Eli Wilson

The Georgetown University Ukrainian Society (GUUS) was founded by Ukrainian Georgetown students who believed in building a community and creating a space for the culture to thrive overseas, in the wake of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Andrii Sendziuk, a founding member and former president of the Society, who passed away in September 2025, after his graduation in May, spearheaded the student branch of the Ukraine Action Student Summit in collaboration with the American Coalition for Ukraine.

GUUS hosted the second annual Ukraine Student Action Summit (USAS) at the Georgetown campus from April 4 to 6, furthering Sendziuk’s passion for collaborative student advocacy. The event featured a diverse range of panels and expert guest speakers, providing participants with valuable insights into various issues, including Ukrainian advocacy in education, on Capitol Hill, and within other student organizations.

USAS focuses on facilitating networking between student activists, fostering conversations, and bringing together people from different areas of advocacy, such as journalists, lawyers, activists, and students. One unforgettable panel was called: “Modern War,” and it featured a conversation with two Ukrainian defenders.

The soldiers, Vladyslav Sobolevskyi and George Kuparashvili, serve in the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Vladyslav Sobolevskyi is a Deputy Commander of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Sobolevskyi’s career spans critical roles in high-pressure environments, where his leadership and tactical acumen were instrumental in key defense operations. George Kuparashvili is a Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the 354th Mechanized Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the Main Intelligence Department of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense (2022–2024), overseeing combat training for the 3rd Assault Brigade during pivotal defensive operations. Kuprashvili has extensive combat experience, including a deployment with the UN’s Kosovo Force (KFOR), anti terrorist operations in the Caucasus, and service in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2010. Since joining the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2014, he has leveraged his global exposure and hands-on operational expertise to pioneer modern defense strategies and effectively safeguard national security.

They attended the conference at Georgetown as part of the Snake Island Institute Delegation to the US to raise awareness and share their experiences on the front lines fighting against Russia. They said that international support is necessary, and they do not wish to mobilize foreign troops; they urge other countries to continue supporting them, and they will fight the Russians themselves.

Commonly, long-term conflicts lead to war fatigue, and headlines move on to breaking news and fresh gossip. However, the Ukrainians do not have the luxury of reading news headlines from their phones; they experience the violence daily. This is why it is critical to create space, such as USAS, for defenders and first-hand witnesses to remind people that thousands of miles away, people are dying every day to protect not only Ukraine's borders, but also the Western World.

The defenders gave unique insight into what it is really like to be in the thick of the war for years. Their perspective focused on Europe’s diminishing role on the global stage, which may lead to instability and increase the possibility of more armed conflicts in the region.

Another central point was the unique environment during wartime that creates an unprecedented industry for software and hardware development. The soldiers defined what armed conflicts look like as modern war shifts away from first-hand action and towards greater use of drones. Many small businesses have sprung up in Ukraine that create specific elements that can be used on the front lines, and their future after the end of the war is uncertain. It is possible that they will be consolidated and bought by larger firms when the demand drops. Additionally, demand for new military technologies in Ukraine has boomed.

Sobolevskyi and Kuparashvili agree that they “do not want civilians to fight, but the professional army is dying, and however many years they will continue to fight depends on who is willing to help [Ukraine].” They also provided technical expertise on which type of ammunition is most effective and how the military industry complex operates within Ukraine. “We need to be able to use the weapons we are given.”

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has relied on any weapons and assistance it can get from international partners. Sometimes, countries use this as a unique opportunity to field-test new technologies and weapons systems that require specific training. Although these resources are desperately needed at the front, required training periods and expertise for new weapons can delay field use and cost Ukraine precious time. Since Ukraine’s front lines offer a unique opportunity for combat testing new weapons, companies view this as a win-win situation; however, there are no guarantees that it will work or be effective.

Global cooperation is now more critical than ever, following three years of war. Foreign countries not only send millions of dollars to uphold Ukraine's society and economy, they are also invaluable when training troops. Since military trainers teach soldiers tactics from experience gained in other wars, such as American military officers who previously served in Afghanistan or Iraq, or Georgian soldiers who battled Russia on their home turf. Additionally, volunteers from all over the world have come to fight for Ukraine, bringing diverse backgrounds and knowledge in techniques that can strengthen Ukraine’s own army.

An often-repeated question of the conference was: “When will the war be over?” Although this is a very complex question, Sobolevskyi said, “We have never actually ended the war with Russia; it has lasted hundreds of years. Right now, we just need to outlast them.” Since the establishment of Kievan Rus, conflict has persisted in the area, continuing into the 21st century.

Ukrainian troops are depleting, and the widespread use of drones is making it more difficult and dangerous for those remaining to fight. There are mass casualties and a decreasing population. The best outcome for the Ukrainians would, of course, be to reinstate the borders that were established before 2014. Still, right now, the highest priority for all of Ukraine is not to let people forget or get desensitized to the war.

The conference concluded with a consensus among participants that, while Ukraine did not breach international agreements to initiate the war, the only thing that can end the war is absolute security guarantees. There is no point in suggesting a “peace” deal that only favors the aggressor. The only viable future for Ukraine is independence and membership in a security alliance that acknowledges Ukraine’s crucial role and strategic location as a buffer between democracies and authoritarian regimes.

Unique perspectives, such as those presented at the conference, from individuals in action and on the front lines, as well as expert commentary and testimonies, are the very principle of a summit like UASS. Events such as this highlight not only the importance of bringing outside perspectives from ongoing conflicts, but also honoring the legacy of the Hoyas that came before us, like Sendzuik.