Ukrainian soldier rails against Zelensky government: “The real situation is being covered up”

FR Ukrainian soldier rails against Zelensky government: “The real situation is being covered up” Article by Patrick Mayer • 34 mins “Just not enough men” A Ukrainian soldier makes allegations against Volodymyr Zelensky's government and the General Staff. The situation on the Dnipro near Kherson is allegedly more explosive than Kiev claims. Donbass – Things are going badly militarily and politically for Ukraine in the Ukrainian war in its defense against the invasion by Russia in the run-up to Christmas. The warnings from the Western defense alliance NATO not to leave Kiev alone in this phase of the fighting are no coincidence. Front near Kherson: Ukrainian soldier sharply criticizes Kiev Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zalushnyj complained about an alleged demotion by President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. And financial aid to Ukraine from the United States will expire at the end of the year, while Republicans in Congress are currently blocking further funds. In important swing states, the Republican Donald Trump is also ahead of incumbent Joe Biden in polls. Washington is currently discussing a possible aid package worth $81 billion. Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the Russian army around Avdiivka in Donbass is putting a lot of pressure on. In this complicated situation, a Ukrainian soldier has now sharply criticized the government and the general staff in Kiev in an interview with the BBC. The criticism is: The soldiers on his section of the front near Kherson lack a lot and feel left alone. Full screen button Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently under heavy pressure in the Ukraine war Dnirpo Front in Ukraine: Ukrainian defender complains about lack of soldiers "Several brigades should be stationed here, not individual companies - we simply don't have enough men," he said of the military situation in the southern delta of the vast Dnipro river, according to the British broadcaster's news website. At the beginning of November, after several failed attempts, the Ukrainians managed to establish themselves on the eastern bank of the Dnipro in Kherson Oblast. Ukrainian marines were first able to set up positions near the village of Krynki, expand them and finally land supplies sustainably. The eastern bank of the Dnipro has significant strategic importance. The nearby and well-developed European Route 97 (E97) leads from Oleschky to Armyansk at the northwestern tip of Crimea. And that over a comparatively manageable 100 kilometers. Problems in the Ukraine War: Deadlocked Front and Political Tensions in Kiev But the situation of the Ukrainian army on this section of the front is apparently more explosive than Kiev communicated. The soldier described that the units were struggling with a lack of heavy weapons and significant personnel problems. This means: In his opinion, too few soldiers were sent there to defend themselves against Russian counterattacks. On top of that. “We paid for a lot of our equipment ourselves – buying generators, power banks and warm clothing. Now that the frost is coming, it will only get worse – the real situation is being covered up, so no one will change anything,” he continued. Multiple brigades should be stationed here, not individual companies - we simply don't have enough men. Ukrainian soldier talks to the BBC If that wasn't enough, the man even claimed that some of the marines assigned to hold the beachheads couldn't even swim. The information cannot be independently verified. At least it fits the picture: Ukrainian front-line troops complain about sending inadequately trained recruits and about problems with the supply of food and medicine, writes Business Insider. Now comes the bitterly cold winter. The immense challenges currently also include stalled arms deliveries from the West. The defense ministers of the European Union (EU) recently stated after a meeting that the goal of delivering one million 155 mm artillery shells by the end of the year would be clearly missed. Weapons deliveries in the Ukraine war: Kiev is eagerly awaiting more Leopard 1 tanks from Germany Germany will also initially miss its target for Leopard 1 deliveries. And clearly. According to the Federal Ministry of Defense, 80 Leopard 1A5s should be handed over to the Ukrainians by the end of the year. As of December 5th, according to the traffic light government's list of military support services, there were only 30 units on the fronts between Kherson and Avdiivka. At the beginning of November, Berlin delivered ten more “Leos”, but tank support was a problem.