"Bitterness And Cynicism Is Growing In The Ukraine Army" Topic

"Today's withdrawal of heavy weapons in accordance with the Minsk cease-fire marks a major reversal for Kiev. For many soldiers, cynicism about commanders is weighing heavily.

Soledar, Ukraine — Haggard Ukrainian Army soldiers withdrew 15 heavy artillery guns Friday, their armored convoy part of a delayed cease-fire agreement with Russian-backed separatists to ease a conflict that has taken nearly 6,000 lives.

With blue and yellow Ukrainian flags flying on an unseasonably warm day, the soldiers hauled their mud-splattered 100mm guns – some of them painted white for camouflage in snow – behind armored personnel carriers. Rebel forces also removed four Grad rocket launchers from front-line positions, the Associated Press reported, and have claimed other pullbacks in recent days.

But the fact that these first steps are being taken 12 days later than agreed – with rebel forces in the meantime capturing the strategic railway hub of Debaltseve – illustrates how separatist units that faced losses last summer have been transformed into a more capable force now making battlefield advances…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Not news. This could describe practically any army in history. Even Alexander had troubles like this.

I think actually stories of lack of equipment and the poor command structure have been regularly featured in the Ukrainian press with different agendas in some cases (Russian sympathisers within the High Command being a favourite one of some on the right). Thing is that the armed forces were starved of funds for a long time and that combined with what might be holdover over of the Soviet hierarchial system and corruption that doesn't seem to have gone away (which really given its role in the overthrow of Yanukovych is a major issue) is a recipe for not the most efficient set up – one can see why the right wing volunteer units are motivated to fight as they have an ideology – even if its a fairly repugnant one to many in Ukraine, but maybe a lot of the other conscripts are not too keen in the first place and overlay structural problems on that.

I was listening to interviews of Ukrainian national troops last week. Several felt that they had enough equipment and supplies to do their job (they felt that they were better troops than the insurgents), but that poor leadership had squandered their advantages.

I'm not sure that the east is in a better position, but they have mysteriously gained strategic and tactical leadership. There are ongoing reports that these higher capable units lead the initial assault (in unmarked vehicles and with unmarked uniforms) before falling back to let militia units take over as the media catches up…