On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of a war that began in 2014. The invasion has caused immense suffering in Ukraine with over 10m people displaced and significant damage to civil infrastructure, as well as food shortages in Africa and the Middle East and energy shortages across Europe. Many commentators expected that Russian forces would quickly overwhelm Ukrainian defences and cause regime change in Kyiv. However Ukrainian national unity and a courageous and competent military defence have halted and recently reversed Russian gains.

Major General Gus McLachlan will describe the origins of the war in Ukraine as they form part of a challenge to the "Rules-based Global Order" that has provided relative global stability for 80 years. He will describe the impact of modern Information Warfare — a battle in cyberspace and social media - on the maintenance of Ukrainian national resolve and western support. He will describe the impact on the war of advanced guided weapons such as the Javelin Missile and the HIMARS long-range rocket system and the impact of drones — robotic and autonomous air, sea and land systems — on modern warfare. He will describe the impact of modern war on Australia's defence planning in light of developing tensions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.