Ukrainian Armed Forces Lose Flexibility and Adopt Soviet Command Methods – WSJ

In the first year of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian defenders took advantage of the maneuverability and sluggishness of the Russian troops. However, after three years of war, the Ukrainian army lost its flexibility and became similar to the Soviet one.

This was reported in The Wall Street Journal.

The publication notes that the change in principles in the Ukrainian army is generating dissatisfaction with unjustified losses and is also undermining the morale of the population. Soviet methods may undermine Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.

“Ukrainian officers and infantrymen complain of a centralized command culture that often punishes initiative and costs soldiers their lives. Generals order repeated attacks that are unlikely to succeed and reject requests from besieged units to tactically withdraw and rescue their soldiers. Casualties pile up in operations that have no strategic significance,” the WSJ writes.

In a comment to the publication, Major Oleksiy Pasternak claims that the top brass of the army need urgent changes. After all, the SOU is held together thanks to the initiative of people all the way down to the battalion commander.

Captain Oleksandr Shirshin, who commands a battalion in the 47th Brigade, has publicly expressed his displeasure, speaking out against the “stupid” orders and losses. He told the WSJ that he spoke out after senior commanders repeatedly gave unrealistic orders to launch offensives.

The last straw was the order for Shirshin’s people to return to the Kursk region.

“The direction of the attack was predictable, and the Russians were ready for it,” the military said.

He said many soldiers were killed. “They were young and motivated. I had high hopes for them. But instead we just lost them,” he said.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine acknowledged the existence of some problems, but announced improvements, including a review of the training system and a transition to an American approach to command.

The General Staff report also states that sometimes strict control from above is necessary when units fail to cope with their tasks, and that brigade commanders are replaced if they lose too many people.

Across the front lines, many Ukrainian servicemen tell stories similar to Shirshin’s.

One common case is that senior commanders refuse to make a timely tactical retreat, leaving soldiers at risk of encirclement and destruction. As officers testify, such refusals indicate a wasteful attitude towards soldiers’ lives on the part of senior ranks who do not want to take responsibility.

However, some officers say the situation is improving as people with front-line experience are being appointed to leadership positions.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Headquarters, at which a decision was made to increase funding for combat units and simplify bureaucratic procedures in the army .

It was previously reported that starting September 1, all employees of the CCC and the SP are required to wear body cameras and conduct video recording during document checks or service of summonses .

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