All articles tagged with #ukrainian army
Ukraine's new Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov says about 2 million people are evading mobilization and 200,000 soldiers are AWOL, highlighting a severe manpower shortage as Ukraine pushes army reforms, improves front-line infrastructure, and fights corruption.
A new amnesty law in Ukraine has led to the return of approximately 3,000 soldiers to active duty after they had previously left their units without authorization. The law, effective from November 29, 2024, allows first-time absentees to return without facing criminal charges, aiming to address the growing issue of unauthorized military absences due to combat fatigue and unclear service terms. The legislation requires commanders to reinstate returning soldiers within 72 hours, restoring their benefits and allowing them to join any unit except the one they left.
Slovak Defense Minister Kaliňák suggested that instead of sending NATO troops, Ukraine should motivate and provide resources for the 300,000 Ukrainian men of draft age who have left the country to return and fight in the Ukrainian army, as they are sufficiently patriotic. Kyiv's new mobilization bill aims to lower the mobilization age to 25 to rotate exhausted front-line soldiers, but it has faced challenges in gaining public support and funding.
As Ukraine faces Russian assaults, there has been a surge of women enlisting in the Ukrainian army, with many volunteering for combat roles. One such woman is a 31-year-old former lawyer, known as Witch, who commands a Ukrainian artillery platoon. She, along with other women, has been resolute in her commitment to the military, even as the war continues to take its toll.
After the Ukrainian army's 110th Mechanized Brigade ran out of ammunition and had to retreat from Avdiivka, the Russian army attacked in multiple sectors. However, the Ukrainian 65th Mechanized Brigade successfully repelled a Russian assault group, inflicting heavy casualties and destroying numerous Russian tanks and fighting vehicles. Despite Russian losses, they are mobilizing more troops and restoring long-stored vehicles to make up for their casualties, while the Ukrainians struggle with ammunition shortages due to blocked U.S. aid.
Valentina, a 19-year-old Ukrainian mortarwoman known as "Demon," fights in a hotly contested area in Ukraine, seeking revenge for the death of her friends at the hands of the enemy. Despite constant targeting, her mortar unit effectively supports infantry fighters by stopping enemy offensives and destroying enemy positions. Valentina's determination to defend her country and lead the recovery of fallen soldiers reflects the resilience and sacrifice of those impacted by the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The Ukrainian army's 110th Mechanized Brigade retreated from Avdiivka after a brutal four-month battle, inflicting heavy casualties on the Russian army. The retreating Ukrainians downed three Russian jets, including a Sukhoi Su-35 and two Sukhoi Su-34s, as they targeted the Ukrainian brigade. The battle in Avdiivka served as an attrition trap for Russian forces, allowing the Ukrainians to inflict significant losses on the Russian military. However, the Ukrainian army faces challenges due to a shortage of American-made missiles and artillery ammunition, with U.S. aid being blocked by Russia-aligned Republicans in Congress.
Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine's new army chief, has been instrumental in key victories against Russia, earning the nickname "Snow Leopard" and "Hero of Ukraine." Trained in the Soviet era, he has led successful defenses and counteroffensives, but faces challenges as the conflict enters its third year, including shortages of ammunition and personnel. His priority is the morale of his soldiers, as they aim to hold territory amid delays in receiving crucial US military aid.
Ukrainian army chiefs are seeking to mobilize an additional 500,000 troops as part of efforts to strengthen the country's defense capabilities. This move comes amid ongoing tensions with Russia and concerns over potential military aggression.
As the Russian 2nd Combined Arms Army continues its assault on Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, combat journalist Yuriy Butusov suggests that the Ukrainian army's battle-hardened 110th Mechanized Brigade, which has been garrisoning the city for 18 months, should take over the defense. Despite being neither the most experienced nor best-equipped brigade, the 110th has been successfully holding Avdiivka, destroying 200 Russian vehicles and killing 800 Russians in the first 13 days of fighting. Butusov also recommends a unified sector command and resupplying the garrison with explosives-laden drones to aid in the defense.
The Ukrainian army's 55th Artillery Brigade, armed with Caesar self-propelled howitzers, has been successfully repelling Russian assaults on Avdiivka for 20 days. The artillery has reportedly destroyed the equivalent of a Russian brigade, preventing the Russians from cutting off and starving Avdiivka's Ukrainian garrison. The Caesars' ability to quickly fire and relocate has helped them avoid Russian counterbattery fire, and their use of American-made cluster shells has inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking Russians.
Ukrainian soldiers in the 24th Mechanised Brigade are facing a challenging and prolonged war on the front line against Russian forces. With open-ended service, limited leave, and a high casualty rate, these soldiers are committed to serving until the war ends. The brigade has seen significant changes since the outbreak of the war in 2014, with a threefold increase in size and the inclusion of volunteers and conscripts. Despite the difficulties, soldiers like "Jimmy" and "Yurii" continue to fight with determination and ingenuity. The conflict has taken a toll on Ukrainian families, with many struggling to cope with the loss and injuries suffered by their loved ones. The war has mobilized Ukrainian society, and a clear-cut victory is now the only acceptable outcome for many Ukrainians.
The Ukrainian Army's 47th Brigade has announced the liberation of the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia area, which had been under Russian occupation. After two months of intense fighting, the Ukrainian forces successfully penetrated the multi-layered defense of the occupiers. Civilians from Robotyne, who had been waiting for the Ukrainian armed forces for 18 months, were rescued and evacuated from the frontlines in American-made Bradley armored vehicles. The villagers expressed gratitude and relief, stating that they were leaving towards peace and towards Ukraine.
The Ukrainian army has reportedly lost its first ex-Slovenian M-55S tank, which was hit by a Russian artillery shell outside Russian-occupied Kreminna in northeastern Ukraine. The M-55S tanks, upgraded with British L7 105-millimeter guns and modern optics, are primarily used as mobile guns rather than tanks due to their light protection. It is surprising that the tank was in that location, as it should have been assigned to a tank battalion in the 47th Assault Brigade, which has been involved in the fighting in southern Ukraine. The possibility of the tank battalion being reassigned to a different brigade or the decision to keep the aging M-55Ss away from heavy fighting is being considered. The deployment of the 21st Mechanized Brigade to the Kreminna sector suggests potential intensive fighting in that area.
The Ukrainian 47th Assault Brigade has lost at least three of its six Leopard 2R breaching vehicles, along with other engineering vehicles, during an assault on Russian positions near Mala Tokmachka. Breaching a minefield is a difficult and costly operation, and even the best-equipped armies expect to lose as much as half of their assault force during a successful breach. However, the loss of these vehicles is not expected to stop the Ukrainian attack, as their allies have pledged scores of specialized engineering vehicles to the war effort.