The war in Ukraine illustrates the continuous evolution of modern conflict—from localized engagements to full-spectrum, nationwide defense. This shift has fundamentally reshaped the concept of engineering support. No longer confined to auxiliary roles, engineering troops have become a decisive instrument in shaping the battlespace and sustaining defensive resilience—true architects of the battlefield.
This was emphasized by Vasyl Syrotenko, Chief of the Engineering Troops of the Support Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in his address at Combat Engineer & Logistics 2026—a leading European forum for cooperation in engineering support and logistics, bringing together defense institutions, equipment manufacturers, and the armed forces of NATO member and partner states.
According to the general, engineering troops today operate at the strategic level, with responsibility extending across the entire national territory—from the line of contact to the operational depth. This discussion also examines the evolution of engineering forces in contemporary warfare, their expanding functions, and their growing role in ensuring the state’s defense.
FROM ECHELONED DEFENSE TO RESILIENT DEFENSE
