“The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that the mobilization possibilities do not cover the need for personnel at the front, therefore part of the servicemen who were engaged in logistics and support are being transferred to the infantry.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Source: Syrskyi in an interview with TSN. Week, commenting on the transfer of the Air Force to the infantry
Direct speech: “First of all, there is my order, which prohibits the transfer (to the infantry – ed.) of highly qualified personnel who have undergone training and who specialize in the maintenance of aircraft, for whom there is actually no one to replace.
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On the other hand, we basically have a need at the front. We must adequately increase the number of personnel in mechanized brigades.
The possibilities of mobilization, unfortunately, do not cover this need. Therefore, we are taking measures to reduce our logistics component, supply component, service component within reasonable limits. The staffs know these tasks, they have made calculations.”
Prehistory:
- UP sources reported that in 2024 and at the beginning of 2025, troops from the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be massively transferred to the Ground Forces to replenish combat brigades. The last order of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky regarding the transfer of personnel was sent to the military units of the Air Force on January 11. According to the interlocutor of the UP, according to this order, more than 5,000 soldiers were to be transferred to the Ground Forces.
- The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially stated that “the acute shortage of specialists of the Air Force’s engineering and aviation service, who maintain aircraft, was not planned and is not planned to be transferred to infantry units.”
- At the same time, the General Staff noted that the situation at the front remains difficult, there is a lack of infantrymen in many areas. Therefore, the decision to strengthen ground brigades on the front line at the expense of personnel from other units and military branches is a forced step of the command to strengthen the defense of Ukraine.
- After that, President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Anatoliy Krivonozhko, not to reduce the number of airmen and to explain to society the situation regarding their transfer to the Ground Forces.
- The Air Force created a special commission that studies the state of affairs regarding the transfer of servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to other branches and types of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.