Ukraine has enacted the Strategic Defense Bulletin (SDB) as one of the key documents clearly outlining the program of development for the nation’s security and defense sector. The passing of this document was inspired by a number of events. On Monday the president’s decree On the Decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of May 20, 2016 “On the Strategic Defense Bulletin of Ukraine” was published.
Firstly, in the forerun to the imminent NATO summit in Warsaw Ukraine has got clear messages about close cooperation with NATO and more active pursuit of its membership in the Alliance. We would like to remind our readers that back in 2008, Germany and France blocked Ukraine’s progress on the way to its Membership Action Plan (MAP).
Secondly, there is a war going on, in which Ukraine confronts the aggression of a powerful militant neighbor. Yet, despite Russia’s vast arsenal of brazen and cynical methods of hybrid warfare, Ukraine is toughing it out. Which means that we can teach NATO a few things as well.
Thirdly, Ukraine still has quite a considerable layer of career troops for whom reform would mean breaking their own spine. The conventional corruption schemes, countless generals multiplying like clones, red tape, the ancient, rigid Soviet-style approaches to defense, and so on, and so forth: all of these are the maladies sapping the nation’s security and defense. It should be said that NATO is already quite openly demanding that the Ukrainian government and the top military command take concrete measures. Roughly speaking, we are being pulled by the ears towards the NATO standards.
In its turn, the Alliance is interested to be present in the east of Europe. Joshua Baker, spokesman for the US Department of State, said recently that “Ukraine is the partner and, in a sense, even the member of NATO.” Of course, it is an exaggeration, but it reveals the West’s realization of the need to build a powerful shield in the east of Europe. It could be well said that these lands have become that very edge of a precipice separating the world from the threat of a great war. Ukraine is a buffer between the Kremlin’s aggressive plans and Europe, clearly scared by a range of risks, from migration to terror attacks. That is why NATO needs a Ukraine with a strong defense, and with a clear-cut political course at that. Unfortunately, we will have not only to implement the clearly formulated paragraphs of the abovementioned documents, but also fight domestic sabotage which creates vague standpoints and confusing statements.
“THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SDB IS MEANT NOT ONLY FOR THE DEFENSE MINISTRY ALONE, IT IS A MATTER OF TRANSFORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTIRE STATE SYSTEM”
Ihor KABANENKO, admiral, security and defense expert:
“The Strategic Defense Bulletin is an extremely important document. Proceeding from the national security strategy and Ukraine’s military doctrine, the SDB is the next document on the strategic-executive level, which clearly identifies the main, concrete strategic steps to be taken. According to it, we need a state reform and development program for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a state program for the development of armaments, and other, more detailed documents.
“The SDB clearly outlines and defines five strategic goals. It contains no general phrases and slogans. It is a huge advantage. Besides, concrete time frame is set – 2020. Now we will have to do some very serious and intense work in order to fulfill this document. The scope of tasks is quite ambitious. All this is connected to the implementation of NATO standards, changes of management after the Alliance style, changes in logistics, embracing new approaches concerning operative capabilities. Among the priorities is the question of development of such a management system which would eliminate duplication of management and clearly distribute powers.
“After completing this thorough reconstruction no traces of the Soviet legacy will remain. Meanwhile, today there still are a lot of Soviet-style approaches in the existing defense system. It will be a totally different mode of existence for the Armed Forces, another mode of performing tasks, another communication system. Everything related to the reserve personnel will also undergo transformations. It must be a systemic reconstruction, which has yet to be carried out. The document only outlines the key architectural features which need to be implemented.
“Besides, this document is extremely important because of the messages which will be sent at the NATO summit in Warsaw. It is the product of serious work on both sides. A great many people worked on this document, including experts and advisers. The final document differs essentially from its previous versions. This edition is important as it emphasizes the progress of our army and national security and defense forces in their cooperation with the Alliance. It is also oriented on the employment of the best defense models existing in the West.
“Certainly, there is a risk that old people and old principles might hinder the implementation of this document. Everything depends on how the system will be working on the operational level. If a concrete cog in the wheel does not share conceptual approaches towards the development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the system will either falter or even sabotage everything. And of course, I reiterate, this is one of the risks concerning the implementation of this program. We need to work thoroughly on the transformation of the executive structure and the executors’ mentality. It is necessary to distinguish progressive people, with a Western education and the corresponding picture of the world. They must lead the processes of integration into NATO. What we need to do is not only change the facade behind formal statements and reports, but also to change the inner contents. Many just do not understand what NATO standards stand for. For many it is just a popular expression, but they do not realize what it means. Old mentality will hinder positive changes. Most importantly, the implementation of SDB is meant not only for the defense ministry alone, it is a matter of transformation and development of the entire state system, the change and development of its inner essence.”
“IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE NATO SUMMIT, WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE BULLETIN”
Valentyn BADRAK, director, Center for Army, Conversion, and Disarmament Studies:
“According to our estimates, Ukraine’s government has only done approximately a half of what it could have done in the sphere of transforming security and defense. The first part is always documentary, i.e., it offers a general view of the principles on which the army and security in general should be built. At this stage we have a serious progress, due to the endorsement of the Military Doctrine, the Strategy of National Security, and last but not least, the Strategic Defense Bulletin. Now it is crucial that realistic programs be developed on the basis of these documents. I mean three huge programs, the lack of implementation of which prevents us from progress in the creating of a new type of the Ukrainian army or in the creating of a system of supplying the troops with new armaments. The first is the program of building and developing the Armed Forces of Ukraine until a certain period. The second is a state goal-oriented program of the development of armaments. The third is a state goal-oriented program of the development of the defense industry. It is of crucial importance that all these programs be realistic.”
“If our government was persistent and had worked on these documents from day one, we would already have all these programs. Because we do not have the detailed programs, we cannot say more specifically and confidently how, when, and in what way we are going to have a professional army. Also, the government is still lingering with reforms in the defense industry. There are talks about creating a special agency on the defense industry and space or defense industry and military and technical cooperation. On that very Friday, when the National Security and Defense Council passed the Strategic Defense Bulletin, this question was supposed to be considered as well. Everyone expected it, yet for some reason the issue was never raised. There is certain indecisiveness due to unsolved staffing issues. Who is going to supervise the defense industry? Certain problems revealed themselves here. Although I know from quite serious sources that the first vice prime minister Stepan Kubiv is prepared to introduce such an agency into the structure of the executive power and do his best to make it work.
“There is no doubt that the adoption of the SDB is related to the NATO summit slated for July. This summit is one of the important landmarks in Ukraine’s most recent relations with the West. The messages were quite clear: a lack of reforms, including those in the defense sector, might mean chilling relations with Ukraine. Which means that we risk to come back to the situation which was in 2008, when the West continued to encourage Ukraine to implement reforms, yet was disappointed.
“There are a number of positive steps which we must mention. First of all, this is the creation of a special task force and the launching of work on Ukraine’s capability to deal an asymmetric blow. Then, there are some changes in the situation with the system of government procurement and the adoption of the law which we have labeled ‘ProZorro.’ It will improve the system of government procurement and reduce corruption. There is also an agreement concerning the Alliance’s assistance in the development of Ukraine’s Navy and the modernization of the State Border Service. Yet all these achievements are stunted by the lack of a clear policy regarding the creation of a professional army and the absence of reform in the defense industry. Moreover, I want to say that if it were not for the NATO summit, we would still have to wait for the adoption of the Strategic Defense Bulletin and the creation of the special task force. The Western partners have in fact stimulated us to act more decisively.”
