What Ukraine Can Learn from the 12-Day Iran-Israel War?
The brief yet consequential Iran-Israel war in June 2025 revealed more than military tactics. It provided a powerful strategic blueprint for countries resisting authoritarian aggression. One of them is Ukraine.
In his analysis for The Gaze, political scientist and the United Ukraine Think Tank expert Petro Oleshchuk argues that the 12-day conflict underscored how precision warfare, global coordination, and technological superiority can decisively counter threats, even from longstanding adversaries like Iran.
In the final phase of the conflict, the United States entered the theater, launching bunker-busting strikes on Iran’s Fordow facility using B-2 bombers and cruise missiles.
Iran’s retaliation was swift but ineffective: hundreds of Shahed drones and ballistic missiles were intercepted by Israel’s multi-tiered air defense system – Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow 3, backed by US and UK military support.
While all sides declared “victory,” the reality is stark: Iran’s strategic capabilities were degraded. Crucially, the war also exposed Russia’s shrinking global influence. Despite signing a so-called “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” with Iran earlier this year, Moscow offered no tangible support to its beleaguered ally.
Oleshchuk notes that Russia limited itself to generic diplomatic statements that not only disappointed Tehran but also shattered the illusion of a cohesive anti-Western bloc.“For the whole world, this is a signal of exceptional importance. Russia is an unreliable ally,” Oleshchuk stated.
The war demonstrated that “peace through strength” is not just Cold War nostalgia. Israel’s doctrine of rapid retaliation and deep-penetrating strikes allowed it to neutralize threats while avoiding a prolonged war, and without losing credibility on the international stage.
Western support was also pivotal. Real-time intelligence and coordinated air defense assistance helped Israel counter Iran’s missile barrage. “A logical question arises: if such support is possible for Israel, why not implement it in an even broader format for Ukraine?” Oleshchuk claimed.
For Ukraine, the lessons are stark but hopeful. First, military strength matters, especially when combined with strategic clarity and technological edge. Second, Russia's diplomatic and military isolation is real, not just rhetorical. And third, Ukraine must push its partners to adopt a more assertive stance: one that includes long-range weapons, expanded air power, stronger sanctions, and cyber deterrence – peace through force.
“Despite all the risks, the 12-day war between Israel and Iran did not prove to be a disaster for global stability, but rather a lesson in geopolitical realism,” Oleshchuk concludes. “Ukraine only needs to convince the West that a similar approach is needed to defeat Moscow — one that is decisive, coordinated, and technologically superior.”
Read the full article by Petro Oleshchuk on The Gaze: Lessons for Ukraine from the 12-Day Iran-Israel War?