Ukraine was not prepared for Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which allowed Moscow to seize significant territory in the early stages of the war, National Guard Commander Oleksandr Pivnenko said on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Pivnenko made this remark during an interview with journalist Anna Maksymchuk.
Russian forces occupied approximately 5,000 square kilometers (1,931 square miles) of Ukrainian territory at the beginning of the invasion, the interviewer noted.
“It was a good result for the enemy – a large territory. It was a bad result for us,” Pivnenko said. “We were not ready. That is why we lost a lot at the beginning. If we had known, acted confidently, positioned everyone in advance and destroyed bridges in time, it would have been different.”
Pivnenko said that advance action based on intelligence can change the course of military operations, citing Israel as an example.
“It is a small country, but when they receive intelligence, they act preemptively. They launch aircraft and strike first because they know hostilities will begin,” he said.
He added that Ukraine follows a similar principle when it has confirmed intelligence on Russian troop concentrations.
“If we know the enemy is preparing to advance and understand where their staging areas are located, we direct all available means there and destroy them,” Pivnenko said. “We saw and knew the enemy was positioned along the borders. We needed to act with all available tools.”
Asked how long Ukraine can continue resisting Russia’s full-scale invasion, Pivnenko said strengthening drone capabilities would be critical.
“Our drone component is not at a sufficient level,” he said. “If we raise it to the necessary level and prevent the enemy from advancing deeper into our country, everything will be fine.”
He emphasized the importance of maintaining active defense rather than pursuing risky offensive operations.
“If active defense works and the enemy achieves no victories, they will begin to question whether they need such a war,” Pivnenko said. “It is important to stop them and stand firm. There is no need to invent anything – we must ensure stability of defense.”