Ben Hodges, Retired Lieutenant General of the US Army, Delivered a Lecture at Ostroh Academy

September 18, 2024

On September 18, Mr Ben Hodges, retired Lieutenant General of the US Army and ex-commander of the US Army in Europe, delivered the tenth lecture at the National University of Ostroh Academy. The lecture, titled "Kursk vs Pokrovsk ... why the risk is worth it for Ukraine", delved into the strategic considerations and potential outcomes of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The meeting was moderated by Eduard Balashov, Doctor of Science (Psychology), Full professor, and Assistant Rector for International Cooperation and Fundraising of the NaUOA.

We present the most important quotes from the lecture of Mr. Ben Hodges:

• This war matters to us (the West). If Ukraine loses, millions of Ukrainians will be forced to leave for Poland, Germany and other European countries, which is a big challenge for Europe and a significant disruption of grain and energy supply chains.
• Iran has no friends except russia. Russia benefits the most from a war in Israel because, in such a situation, the United States is forced to supply more weapons to Israel and not to Ukraine. That is why the war in Ukraine is not only a Ukrainian issue.
• Russia controls approximately 18% of Ukrainian territory.
• War is not only about weapons but also about the information and who has the information. When Ukraine entered the Kursk area, I thought, "What an incredible Ukrainian intelligence!"
• Now, the kremlin must choose whether it will withdraw forces from the Pokrovsk direction to regain control of part of Kurshchyna or attract troops from other regions of russia.
• The world should put more pressure on putin to make him understand - he cannot win.
  Russia has invested vast amounts of money to destroy Western civil society.
• I was pleasantly surprised when President Erdogan said Russia should return Crimea to Ukraine.
• Russia paid millions to other people to spread fake information to undermine confidence in our institutions.

Marharyta Yakub, a 3rd-year student of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations and National Security, and Yuliia Mykolaichuk, a 3rd-year student of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Linguistics, shared their impressions of the meeting:

"This is not my first lecture meeting with Ben Hodges, but he raises relevant issues every time. Today, we had the opportunity to listen to an analytical review of the situation on the Ukrainian front, namely operations in Kurshchyna and heavy defence in the Pokrovsk direction. As a political scientist, it is interesting and useful. Therefore, I look forward to the next meeting with Mr. Hodges."

"Attending Ben Hodges' lecture was a unique opportunity to hear the opinion of a leading expert in the field of military strategy. His analysis of Ukrainian operations in the Kursk region opens up a deeper understanding of current events at the front and their impact on the future. I am grateful for the opportunity to hear such an expert personally."

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