The Guardian: Kiev turns to froline air defense specialists
The shortage of Ukrainian manpower on the fro line has become so critical that Kiev has been forced to deploy some highly trained air defense specialists as infary, the English publication reported, citing sources in the Ukrainian military.
According to Isna, the English publication Guardian wrote on Saturday that Kiev has ordered its depleted air defense units to “free up” more personnel to be se to the war fros, raising concerns that this action poses a risk to Ukraine’s security.
“It’s been going on for a year now, but every day it’s getting worse and worse… I’m at less than half capacity now,” said a Ukrainian air defense officer, speaking on condition of anonymity. In rece days, the commission came and they wa dozens more.”
Another source from one of the affected units stated that the situation was reaching such a critical level that “we cannot be sure that the air defenses will be able to function properly.”
These transfers are said to even include people who have been trained in the West and have specialized knowledge on the operation and maienance of air defense systems.
“These people knew how air defense works, some were trained in the West and had real skills, now they are being se to the fro to fight for which they have no training,” the source said.
Those the Guardian spoke to also expressed concern that some commanders may use the order to send those they dislike to the fro as punishme.
Another concern is that these forces may surrender or be captured and provide the Russians with sensitive information about Ukrainian air defense positions and tactics.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces did not deny the existence of such an order, but called the Guardian’s report “unreliable and inaccurate” and stressed in a Facebook post on Saturday that the decision did not affect key specialists.
“The change of missions includes military personnel of the Security Forces of Ukraine, some mobile fire groups, as well as personnel who are not involved in the maienance and operation of high-tech weapons and military equipme,” the stateme said. “The Air Force has many personnel who are not directly involved in protecting the sky.”
The stateme also added: “The situation on the coact line is difficult and now the most importa thing is to hold the fro.” “Decisions on the transfer of some military personnel from the rear units to the combat units with the aim of carrying out this priority task.”
Ukraine faces many challenges recruiting new soldiers, exacerbated by a significa desertion rate.
Ukraine’s governme has lowered the conscription age to 25, but has so far resisted calls from its Western backers to further lower the age of conscription to 18 to fill its ranks. On the other hand, the mobilization campaign has faced a strong reaction. There are many reports about the attack of recruitme officials on public places and men’s resistance in the streets.
Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has estimated that the Ukrainian army lost more than half a million soldiers in 2024 alone, and since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, its total casualties have reached more than one million. is
According to Rasha Today, Belusov, speaking at a meeting of the Defense Council on Monday, stated that most fro-line units in Kyiv are severely understaffed, with only 45 to 50 perce of posts filled. The Russian minister also reported that the Russian armed forces are maiaining a strategic initiative across the coact line and that their forces are advancing an average of 30 square kilometers per day.
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