The commander of the Air Defense Forces, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Lieutenant General Andrey Demin, noted that practical lessons from Russia’s experiences in Ukraine have been distilled into teaching materials. These insights have been integrated into the curricula of training programs for the Russian air defense community, reinforcing how today’s service members learn and train.
During remarks at military training institutions, Demin observed that every instance of air strikes against Russian troops and facilities is subjected to thorough analysis. The goal is to translate those concrete events into actionable knowledge for students and instructors at the nation’s air defense academies and war colleges.
He added that the performance of Russian forces, air defense units, and broader troop deployments is under continuous evaluation. The collected experiences are not kept in isolation; they are systematically channeled into science and teaching, reaching teaching staff, adjunct faculty, and doctoral candidates alike. This approach ensures that methods of instruction stay aligned with current field realities and emerging threats.
The training and methodological materials undergo regular revision within their respective subject areas, with new chapters updated to reflect evolving conditions. Students at the Military Academy in the East Kazakhstan region receive formal briefings on leading and managing air defense formations under conditions of modern, high-intensity warfare, ensuring they are prepared for contemporary battle spaces.
Demin also underscored the importance of mobility and rapid repositioning in air defense operations. He pointed to ongoing developments in the NMD (new generation defensive) zone as evidence that any unit or system can become a primary target for adversaries. The guiding principle, he explained, is to strike the target and swiftly alter its position—an imperative condition for survival on today’s battlefield.
Separately, Yuriy Ignat, who formerly served as an advisor to Ukraine’s air force command, commented on Western promises of air defense capabilities. He asserted that the systems pledged by Western partners are likely to arrive in Ukraine soon. In Ignat’s view, systems such as NASAMS, Iris-T, Patriot, and SAMP/TS were among those discussed for delivery. He reiterated that the Ukrainian side is expecting these systems to be deployed on Ukrainian territory as quickly as possible.