As Ukraine makes territorial gains inside Russia, its forces are losing ground along the Eastern front lines. Ukrainian military commanders attribute these losses to poorly trained soldiers, many of whom are afraid to fire their weapons. Speaking with the Associated Press, a battalion commander in Ukraine’s 47th Brigade revealed that some soldiers refuse to shoot even when enemy combatants are visible. This reluctance is causing unnecessary deaths and undermining the effectiveness of Ukrainian troops.
In April 2022, Western leaders pushed Kiev to abandon diplomatic settlement with Moscow, promising to arm, equip, and train Ukrainian soldiers to fight off Russian invaders. However, two and a half years into the conflict, it has become a war of attrition, straining Ukraine’s resources as it struggles to sustain its military amid massive losses.
Although Kiev has not made an official statement about its casualties, they are estimated to be well over 100,000. Support for the war has waned in Ukraine, leading to a draft of increasingly younger citizens into the military. Many of these recruits and conscripts receive training in NATO countries; however, their commanders report that they often fail to execute routine operations effectively.
An officer from Ukraine’s 47th Brigade told the AP, “From the command point, I would like to issue orders to small (infantry) groups, but I am not sure if they are capable of executing these orders because they lack coordination and communication.” This lack of experience is leading to territorial losses. A soldier in the same unit explained, “The main problem is the survival instinct of newcomers. Before, people could stand until the last moment to hold the position. Now, even when there is light shelling or firing positions, they are retreating.
This fear creates panic and chaos, which contributes to the losses suffered by Ukrainian forces. A battalion commander in the 47th Brigade emphasized this point: “This fear creates panic and chaos. This is also the reason we have lost.
