Superiority as a key principle of modern warfare in the context of the lessons and experiences of the war in Ukraine

On February 24, 2022, Russian troops, without declaring war, crossed the borders of Ukraine from the territory of Belarus and began their march toward Kyiv, while conducting operations in the eastern and southern directions. Experts point out that it is likely that the main goal of the Russian troops in the first days of the conflict was to capture the Ukrainian capital, followed by the elimination of the legitimate authorities and the establishment of new government under the Kremlin’s protectorate. Thanks to the heroic defence of the Ukrainians, the Russian troops failed to achieve their goal. In this situation, the Kremlin authorities set new goals for the troops. One of them was to obtain a land route to Crimea (southern direction) and to seize Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, along with capturing Kharkiv and annexing these areas to Russia. To date, i.e. 28 June 2024, the second objective has not been achieved by Russian troops. The analysis of the experience gained from this conflict allows a number of conclusions to be drawn that should contribute to improving the organisation and operations of the Polish Armed Forces. In this context, the article outlines the determinants and means of achieving superiority over the opponent. Factors which lead to achieving superiority in both tangible and intangible dimensions are described. Variable and dynamic military operations in Ukraine inspired the research conducted, the aim of which was to identify operational capabilities that determine victory. The experiences gained from the war between Russia and Ukraine show that military superiority is crucial to achieving the intended tactical, operational and strategic objectives. The research found that despite the passage of 80 years since the last world war, the guiding principle of the art of war, which is superiority, still determines the success of armies in military operations. However, what has changed are the means and methods of achieving it.