Elite military historians are partnering with Ukraine’s defenders to create a powerful education legacy. They’re turning 1,000 years of battlefield wisdom into today’s tactical advantage.
1,142
Years of Military Heritage
34
Stories Beyond Borders
30
Hours of Historical Footage
A Borderlands Foundation Initiative
The Ukraine Military History Institute is a central initiative of the Borderlands Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization committed to honoring Ukraine’s heroes. This partnership equips us with the institutional support needed to fulfill our mission, while aligning our work with broader efforts in veteran support, historical preservation, and international education.
Forging Ukraine’s Warriors for Future Triumphs
We’re shaping Ukraine’s legendary warriors into the blueprint for future triumphs. By capturing battlefield brilliance, we ensure Ukraine and its allies will lead future conflicts, laying the foundation for an unbreakable nation built on heroism.
Episode Highlights
Exploring Ukraine's Military History & Survival in Russian Captivity
Unpacks Ukraine's military history and recounting captivity stories.
More Podcast Episodes from UMHI
A compilation of Ukraine's most crucial war lessons from actual battlefield heroes
The History & Future of Ukraine's Military History
Samuel P.N. Cook discusses Ukraine's military history with experts.
The Evolution of German Military Doctrine
LTG Mykhailo Zabrodsky discusses German Military Doctrine evolution (1916-1918).
Surviving Russian Captivity with Yevgeniy Mallik (Part 1)
Rob Lee interviews Sergeant Yevgeniy Mallik on Mariupol and captivity.
Surviving Russian Captivity with Yevgeniy Mallik (Part 2)
Rob Lee and Yevgeniy Mallik discuss Russian captivity and recovery.
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Coming Soon...
A Deep Dive into Ukraine's Military History
Get ready for an immersive exploration of Ukraine’s military heritage. From expert-led podcasts and comprehensive courses to exclusive battlefield tours and insightful workshops, we’re bringing you an unparalleled educational experience that connects the past with the future of Ukraine’s defense. Stay tuned!
UMHI Course
University course on Ukraine's military heritage.
UMHI Workshop
U.S. military case studies for Ukrainian officers.
UMHI Tours
Private battlefield tours with veterans.
UMHI Delegations
U.S. military case studies for Ukrainian officers.
UMHI Journals
Private battlefield tours with veterans.
DISCOVER WHAT WE VALUE
WHO WE ARE
Where the lessons of history meet the urgency of today's battlefield—ensuring Ukraine's defenders have the wisdom they need to win
Our Mission
We transform Ukraine's battlefield sacrifices into practical military lessons and legendary stories that will inspire and empower Ukraine and its allies to fight and win today's and tomorrow's fights against the enemies of our Freedom.
Our Vision
We envision the Ukraine Military History Institute as the world's premier center where East meets West in military scholarship—a living laboratory where the timeless principles of Clausewitz merge with the drone warfare innovations of Bakhmut, where the leadership lessons of Patton illuminate the heroism of Mariupol's defenders. Here, the theoretical meets the practical, as professors who've studied war their entire lives learn from sergeants who've commanded in the crucible of modern combat.
We see a future where military academies from West Point to Sandhurst send their brightest minds to study alongside Ukrainian officers who've lived these lessons under fire. In this world we're creating, Ukraine's story becomes the cornerstone of 21st-century military education—not just as a case study, but as the beating heart of how free nations defend themselves. Our halls will echo with the voices of the world's greatest military historians documenting the courage of ordinary Ukrainians who became extraordinary defenders of freedom.
Through our work, every tactical innovation born in Ukrainian trenches will be studied in staff colleges globally. Every act of heroism will inspire future officers. Every lesson learned will strengthen the arsenal of democracy. This is our vision: Ukraine's battlefield becoming the world's classroom, where the lessons written in courage today become the strategies that preserve freedom tomorrow.
Our Leadership Team
Our team is a unique blend of military veterans, historians, and educators, united by a shared commitment to preserving and advancing Ukraine's military legacy.
Samuel P.N. Cook
Dean and Founder
Samuel combines extensive combat experience with academic expertise. A West Point graduate, he served as adjutant to Colonel H.R. McMaster during the Battle of Tal Afar and commanded a Cavalry Troop in Northern Iraq under LTG Mark Hertling. He holds a Master's in Russian History from NYU and is pursuing a Master's in World War II Studies at Arizona State University.
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Samuel’s scholarly work has been published in Armor Magazine, and he was featured in Tom Ricks' book The Gamble. Since 2022, he’s been living in Ukraine, serving as the only Western professor at the American University of Kyiv and founding the Borderlands Foundation to preserve Ukraine's military heritage.
Colonel Igor Kosiack (Retired)
Chief Historical Officer
Colonel Kosiack brings over four decades of distinguished military service to the Institute. Most recently, he served as Chief of the Center for Military History Studies of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from 2022 until his retirement in October 2024, documenting the official history of the ongoing war.
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His career includes serving as Ukraine’s Acting Military Representative to NATO and helping establish Ukraine's territorial defense capabilities during Russia's 2014 invasion. He studied at the Industrial College of Armed Forces at the U.S. National Defense University and led the Ukrainian military history center in producing critical war accounts, classified analyses, and foundational documents for future historians.
Rob Lee
Contributor
Rob Lee is a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia Program and a leading expert on Russian military affairs. A former U.S. Marine infantry officer, he combines military experience with academic research as a PhD candidate at King's College London’s War Studies Department.
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His insights, shaped by serving as an Alfa Fellow in Moscow and a visiting fellow at the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), offer a unique perspective on Russian defense policy. Rob's analysis of the Russia-Ukraine war has been featured globally, bridging the gap between military theory and the realities of the conflict on the ground.
Ievgeniy Mallik
Operations Officer
Ievgeniy is the heart of our mission, dedicated to ensuring the experiences of those who have served are never forgotten. A former Senior Sergeant in the 36th Marine Brigade, he fought in the heroic defense of Mariupol and spent 2.5 years in Russian captivity.
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His firsthand experiences of modern warfare and its aftermath, combined with his background in studying abroad in the Czech Republic and working in advertising, bring a unique perspective to our team. Ievgeniy ensures that our work is rooted in the lived experiences of Ukraine's defenders, emphasizing the importance of remembering and honoring their sacrifices through serious historical scholarship.
Lieutenant General Mykhailo Zabrodskyi
Senior Advisor
General Zabrodskyi, a Hero of Ukraine and one of the country’s most respected military leaders, commanded the 95th Airmobile Brigade during the 2014 conflict, leading a historic 470-kilometer raid deep into enemy territory.
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A graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, he combines Ukrainian military experience with Western education. He served as Commander of the Airmobile Forces from 2015 to 2019, later becoming a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, and is currently a Special Advisor to the Minister of Defense. His deep involvement in Ukraine's military transformation and defense planning provides invaluable insight into the evolution of Ukrainian military doctrine and current strategies.
The Story & Future of Ukraine's Military History Institute
The Ukraine Military History Institute was born from the crucible of war and the wisdom of warriors. In early 2025, as Ukrainian forces continued their heroic defense against Russian aggression, something remarkable happened. The 13th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces—battle-hardened soldiers who had faced the enemy countless times—made an unusual request. They didn't ask for more ammunition or advanced weaponry. Instead, they asked for knowledge.
Specifically, they wanted a leadership-focused military history course that could help them understand how great military leaders throughout history had adapted under pressure, transformed defeats into victories, and built armies capable of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. They understood that while technology and tactics evolve, the fundamental principles of leadership, adaptation, and strategic thinking remain timeless.
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This request resonated deeply with Samuel P.N. Cook, a West Point graduate and combat veteran who had been living in Ukraine since 2022, witnessing firsthand the extraordinary courage and innovation of Ukrainian forces. As the founder of the Borderlands Foundation and the only Western professor at the American University of Kyiv, Samuel recognized that this was more than just a request for a single course—it was a call to create something transformative.
Working alongside Colonel Igor Kosiack (Ret.), who had spent the war years as Chief of Ukraine's military history center documenting the conflict in real-time, they began to envision something unprecedented: an institute that would bridge Western military scholarship with Ukrainian battlefield experience. This would be a place where the theoretical met the practical, where historical wisdom informed current operations, and where the lessons being written in blood today would be preserved for tomorrow's defenders of freedom.
The Institute's approach was revolutionary in its simplicity:
Capture the innovations emerging from Ukrainian battlefields, analyze them through the lens of military history, and transform them into practical education that could be immediately applied.
From the drone warfare tactics developed in Bakhmut to the urban defense strategies proven in Mariupol, every lesson would be documented, studied, and shared.
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What started as a response to one brigade's request has grown into a mission to ensure that Ukraine's military genius—forged in the fire of existential struggle—becomes part of the global military canon. Today, the Institute stands as a bridge between East and West, between history and current events, between sacrifice and wisdom. It is a testament to the belief that the best way to honor heroes is not just to remember them, but to learn from them, ensuring their sacrifices light the path to victory and lasting peace.
Our approach combines the academic rigor of institutions like West Point's History Department with the real-time urgency of an active conflict. We don't just study military history—we apply it. We don't just document current events—we analyze them through the lens of centuries of military experience. This unique methodology creates educational experiences that are both intellectually rigorous and practically relevant.
The 13th Brigade's Request
The 13th Brigade of Ukrainian Armed Forces requests leadership-focused military history course.
Samuel P.N. Cook’s Involvement
Samuel P.N. Cook, West Point graduate and combat veteran, recognizes the opportunity to create something transformative.
Collaboration with Colonel Igor Kosiack
Colonel Igor Kosiack (Ret.) joins to bridge Western military scholarship with Ukrainian battlefield experience.
Vision for a Revolutionary Institute
Vision of the Institute emerges: combining theory with practical Ukrainian battlefield innovation.
Establishment of the Ukraine Military History Institute
The Ukraine Military History Institute is founded, bridging military history with modern conflict education.
Revolutionizing Military Education
The Institute focuses on applying military history lessons to real-time Ukrainian military tactics, from drone warfare to urban defense.
A Bridge Between East and West
The Institute stands as a bridge between Eastern and Western military experiences, honoring both past and current military strategies.
Global Impact and Legacy
The Institute’s work ensures that Ukraine’s battle-tested strategies become part of the global military canon.
UKRAINE MILITARY HISTORY INSTITUTE
PODCASTS
Dive into gripping, authentic stories and expert insights, unraveling the untold chapters from Europe's eastern battlefield.
Browse Our Podcast Episodes
The Evolution of German Military Doctrine
In this insightful interview, host Samuel Cook speaks with Mykhailo Zabrodskiy, discussing crucial aspects of Ukrainian military strategy and leadership. This conversation provides valuable context to understand the ongoing conflict and Ukraine's defense efforts from a military perspective.
Surviving Russian Captivity with Yevgeniy Mallik (Part 1)
This gripping first episode explores the harrowing experiences of Ukrainian soldiers who endured Russian captivity. The podcast offers firsthand accounts of survival under extreme conditions and highlights the resilience of those who lived through these traumatic ordeals.
