Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public argument in a nation at war. The perspectives gathered here are varied, candid, and often surprising, together forming a more complete picture of Ukraine as it really is.Frontline and StrategyКультура – Zaxid.net (“Culture tag”)Digital publication focused on news and commentary about Lviv and western Ukraine“We Need to Invest in Quality and Learn From Each Other”By Yevhen Solonina/ Mar. 14, 2026Ukrainian officer Stepan Barna, a former politician, left public life to join the army in 2022 and now commands a drone company in the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss.” His brother Oleg, who had fought since 2014, was killed near Vuhledar in 2023. Barna says the war confirmed long-held expectations of conflict with Russia and has evolved into a technology-driven battlefield dominated by drones. He stresses effective leadership, teamwork, and using soldiers according to their skills to preserve lives. Barna also warns the war will be long and describes it as a broader civilizational struggle requiring sustained national and international support.“I recall that around the turn of 2022–2023 I spoke with my commanders and argued that we needed to prepare for a drone war, because that trend was already becoming clear. Since then, we have focused on developing the unmanned component of our forces. Today we constantly adapt to keep pace with rapidly changing technology: both we and the enemy deploy various drones, unmanned systems, and ground robotic platforms, while also developing ways
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