From Kharkiv: Mark Montgomery on Ukraine’s Drone War and Russia’s Strategy

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery joins The Cipher Brief from Kharkiv, Ukraine, where he is working with Ukrainian forces on military training and operational planning. Speaking with Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly, Montgomery offers a firsthand assessment of the war, Ukraine’s resilience, Russia’s evolving drone strategy, and why the outcome matters directly to U.S. national security. In this conversation, Montgomery discusses: • What he is seeing on the ground in Kharkiv • Why he believes Ukraine can continue holding off Russian forces • How Ukraine is adapting faster than Russia in drone and counter-drone warfare • The growing threat from Shahed/Geran drones and Russia’s use of Iranian-designed systems • Why U.S. and NATO training support remains critical • What Ukraine’s battlefield innovation can teach the United States • Why Americans should care about the war’s outcome • How Putin’s ambitions could extend beyond Ukraine if Russia succeeds Montgomery also explains why Ukraine’s civilian and military resilience remains one of the country’s greatest strategic advantages - and why he believes Ukrainians “will not buckle” under Russian pressure. Subscribe to The Cipher Brief for expert-level national security analysis, frontline reporting, and conversations with the leaders and practitioners shaping global security. Chapters: 00:00 — Mark Montgomery joins from Kharkiv, Ukraine 00:36 — Ukraine’s position on the battlefield 02:51 — Training Ukrainian forces and operational commanders 04:34 — Why Americans are still going to Ukraine 05:15 — Why Ukraine matters to U.S. and NATO security 08:27 — Why Americans should care about the war 11:15 — The drone war and the expanding no-man’s-land 14:31 — Shahed/Geran drones and lessons for the U.S. 17:18 — Ukraine’s resilience and why Montgomery remains optimistic 18:41 — Closing thoughts from Kharkiv