Non-obvious takeaways of the Ukraine war

The weakness of the Russian army and state, as well as the strength of Ukrainian nationalism, were surprising revelations during the Ukraine war. The Russian military proved to be weaker than anticipated, highlighting the long-standing issue of corruption within the Russian economy and government. Additionally, the Russian seizure of Crimea and parts of Donbass in 2014 actually strengthened Ukrainian nationalism, contrary to expectations. This consolidation of Ukrainian nationalism was unexpected, especially considering the East-West divide that existed prior to the invasion. The war also highlighted the declining relevance of tanks in modern warfare, with advanced missiles rendering tanks vulnerable. The war in Ukraine has been seen as marking the end of the era of tanks. As a result, discussions around military planning and spending may shift towards more agile and distributed forms of warfare.