Kiev’s top general complains about raw recruits

Ukraine often sends troops to the front line after minimal training, Aleksandr Syrsky has said

Ukraine is sending fresh troops to the front line with only limited training, Kiev’s top general, Aleksandr Syrsky, has acknowledged, as the country struggles to contain Russian advances in Donbass.

In a rare interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday, Syrsky confirmed media reports about Ukraine’s ongoing manpower problems despite the government’s recent push to boost mobilization.

While stressing that Kiev “wants the level of training to be the best” and is trying to pursue programs aimed at fostering highly qualified professional military personnel, the general admitted that “the dynamics at the front require us to put conscripted servicemen into service as soon as possible.” 

According to Syrsky, who replaced his predecessor, Valery Zaluzhny, in February, new recruits receive one month of basic military training and two to four weeks of specialized training before deployment. However, reservists usually have previous army experience.

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The commander also acknowledged that delays in US assistance – which were mainly due to a congressional gridlock several months ago – have caused ongoing battlefield problems and a morale slump.

The general noted that Ukraine’s front line remains under immense Russian pressure in Donbass, particularly near Pokrovsk, but claimed that “over the last six days the enemy hasn’t advanced a single meter.” 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, said on Thursday that Moscow’s forces have been making rapid advances in the region, partly due to Kiev’s decision to pull out some of its best units to attack Russia’s Kursk Region. The Russian Defense Ministry estimated Ukraine’s losses in the area at more than 10,000 troops since the start of the incursion.

Ukraine announced a general mobilization in February 2022 after the escalation of the conflict with Russia. The campaign has been marred by widespread draft-dodging and graft, with numerous videos showing conscription officers forcibly detaining potential recruits. In a bid to recover military losses, Kiev passed two bills this spring, one of which lowered the draft age from 27 to 25, while the other significantly tightened mobilization rules.

Citing Ukrainian battlefield commanders, the Washington Post reported in June that basic military training is often so lackluster that replacements have to be taught to shoot once they reach the front line.