The Ukrainian army is increasingly facing pressure amid military setbacks, such as the faltered summer counter-offensive in 2023 or the fall of Avdiivka, while discontent within the armed forces is rising, especially given the reluctant arrival of military aid from allied countries.
The lack of visible success on the battlefront has led European leaders to discuss more actively sending alliance troops to Ukraine, with French President Emmanuel Macron “not ruling out” sending soldiers to fight in the war, causing discontent among his allies.
Some foreign publications, including Spain’s El País, have reported that NATO troops are already stationed in Ukraine for monitoring weapons, reconnaissance operations and formation.
The situation on the front raises doubts about allocating further military aid packages, as the opinion that the funds are vanishing in the shadow of corruption, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised to actively fight, is actively spreading.
He also scheduled a reshuffle of the country’s military leadership, as he linked failures on the battlefield to ineffective management of existing troops and equipment. This has sparked controversy with former commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny. Some military experts claim that the string of dismissals is related to the president’s intention to reduce the influence of Zaluzhny’s entourage on the new command.
Local media reported about threats to Zelensky from veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) who had previously supported him. Experts argue that the president is appointing new people not only to top commanding positions, but is also dealing with changes in the middle ranks.
Moreover, some Ukrainian soldiers who have been sent to the UK, Spain, Germany or Poland to learn modern combat techniques are now feeling frustrated. When they return, some note that in addition to missing ammunition, human resources are sometimes lacking as well.
Dissatisfaction among Ukrainian soldiers, which was once extremely rare and expressed only in private, has now become more widespread and open, AP News notes. In winter, for example, Ukrainian soldiers in Kherson questioned why those complex amphibious operations were not launched months ago in warmer weather. The commander of the 11th National Guard Brigade’s anti-drone unit stated:
I don’t understand. It’s not just my feeling, many units share it.
Some top commanders spoke out in support of the dismissed Zaluzhny, with a few posting messages of gratitude on social media. The support on the front line, however, has been more decisive: soldiers are actively expressing dissatisfaction with the appointment of the new AFU commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, instead of Zaluzhny. The troops do not honour the new commander, partly because he “does not care about the lives of soldiers,” referring back to the battles in Bucha.
The military conflict is entering its third year, with many allies seeing no progress that would allow them to argue for another package of military and financial aid. Military analysts attribute the lack of tangible success to Kyiv’s unchanged course, while some believe that the desire to change tactics is what prompted the reshuffle in the military leadership.
However, an abrupt change of command without a clear plan of action, and against the backdrop of bewildered soldiers unprepared for a sudden change, could provoke the opposite of the desired effect. Instead of an enthusiastic army fuelled by sufficient military aid, Kyiv risks facing a series of demoralising events.
