Taipei: Taiwan's president should participate in "rehearsals" to prepare for potential enemy maneuvers in a war, a retired Ukrainian colonel has advised. The aim is to avoid misjudged commands and establish clear rules of engagement (ROE), a lesson Ukraine learned too late before Russia's invasion, he stated.
According to Focus Taiwan, Andrii Ordynovych, a retired Ukrainian Air Force colonel, emphasized the importance of security situation awareness for Taiwan's political leadership. This awareness is crucial for timely decision-making and the application of ROE from strategic to tactical levels. Ordynovych shared these insights during an interview with CNA, reflecting on lessons from Ukraine's ongoing conflict with Russia.
"For leaders, it is very important to identify clearly the different challenges and risks to national security and provide the right political guidance to the military," Ordynovych noted. He added that the military can then implement strategies and defense plans accordingly. Ordynovych is currently the director of strategic support and development at the Ukrainian Freedom Fund.
Discussing how improved battlespace awareness could enhance Taiwan's centralized command capabilities-highlighted in Taiwan's Han Kuang military exercises-Ordynovych stressed involving the president in rehearsals. These rehearsals should simulate evolving security situations to avoid mistakes made under time pressure.
Ordynovych proposed that these rehearsals include decision-making with and without computer assistance, reserve force training, and civilian-held exercises. The objective is to establish ROEs that cover a wide range of scenarios, he explained.
He commended Taiwan's efforts to develop decentralized command capabilities, labeling it a "right decision." Ordynovych explained that this approach would support Taiwan's armed forces in establishing "mission command," similar to the Ukrainian military's strategy, which combines centralized command with decentralized execution.
Ordynovych highlighted the importance of ROEs in conflict, referencing Ukraine's inadequate responses before Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022. "We did not respond with appropriate actions before the full-scale invasion [and] before 2014. You don't need to repeat our mistakes," he advised.
Ordynovych was in Taipei for a security forum hosted by the NGO Doublethink Lab.