“The front is cracking”
Ukrainian military officials worried about lack of infantry
February 9, 2024, 7:31 a.m
Ukraine is not only struggling with a shortage of artillery ammunition. There is also a shortage of soldiers in the trenches. In an interview with a US newspaper, several military officials described the seriousness of the situation.
Ukrainian military officials are warning of a critical shortage of infantry at the front, according to a media report. As the “Washington Post“, citing several interviews conducted, almost a dozen of the soldiers and officers interviewed are of the opinion that the lack of personnel is currently the biggest problem, as Russia has regained the initiative in the war and is increasing its attacks.
A battalion commander of a mechanized brigade fighting in the east of the country told the newspaper that his unit currently has fewer than 40 infantrymen. The target strength of a battalion is 200 men. Another battalion commander named Oleksandr said his unit’s companies averaged only about 35 percent of their personnel. Another battalion commander of an assault brigade told the newspaper that such a number of personnel was typical for units that carry out combat tasks.
“People are exhausted both morally and physically”
According to the Washington Post, the thin staffing level also leads to less troop rotation, which means that soldiers have to stay in their positions longer. This is particularly a problem in winter. “There is no one to replace them, so they sit there longer, their morale drops, they get sick or freeze to death,” Oleksandr said. “They’re running low, the front is cracking, the front is crumbling.”
Dmytro, another deputy battalion commander in another brigade, told the newspaper that his infantrymen typically get two days’ rest after five to 10 days of front-line action. But most of his soldiers are over 40 years old and their lack of physical fitness exacerbates the problems. “You can feel it; people are exhausted both morally and physically,” Serhiy, a platoon commander fighting in Avdiivka, told the paper. “It’s very hard, the weather conditions, the constant shelling. It has a big impact on the human psyche.”
The lack of rotations is not just a problem in the infantry, writes the Washington Post. Nevertheless, the military officers surveyed were still motivated to fight against the Russian invaders. However, they also need recovery time and more men at their side. Otherwise, the staff shortage could trigger a domino effect.